Adderall is a medication prescribed primarily as a treatment for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It consists of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, two powerful stimulants that that improve attention and focus by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the brain.
Although Adderall is safe when taken as prescribed for people with ADHD, it is dangerous when misused. The risk is compounded when the drug is combined with alcohol. The consequences can be deadly.
Combining Adderall and Alcohol: What Happens?
Like cocaine, meth and other stimulant drugs, Adderall increases the normal activity of the central nervous system. On the other hand, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant.
It might seem like the two substances are opposite and would cancel one another out, but that isn’t the case. In reality, depressants and stimulants actually fight against one another in the body.
People who combine the two often reason that they can party longer, but this is a dangerous plan. Usually, your body has ways of telling you that it’s time to stop drinking. For example, you might throw up, fall asleep, or pass out.
When a stimulant is added to the mix, you can get extremely drunk without realizing it because those natural signals don’t kick in. Alcohol poisoning can occur, whether you’ve mixed Adderall with alcohol once or hundreds of times.
