Stimulant Use: The Quick Reference
Stimulant Use: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
The risks of cocaine, methamphetamine and misused prescription stimulants, which speed up the body and brain.
Key takeaways
- Examples: cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants used without a prescription
- Effects on the body: raised heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature
- Most useful single change: Carry naloxone because of fentanyl contamination.
- Commonest mistake: Using stimulants alone.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Examples | cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants used without a prescription |
| Effects on the body | raised heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature |
| Fentanyl | is often found in stimulants, so naloxone can still be needed |
| Treatment | behavioral therapies, including contingency management, are the main treatment |
| Medicines | there are no FDA-approved medicines for stimulant use disorder |
In one paragraph
Stimulants can cause heart attacks, strokes and seizures, and many are now contaminated with fentanyl.
Worth doing
- Carry naloxone because of fentanyl contamination
- Keep prescription stimulants locked up and never share them
- Talk to your doctor or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for treatment options
- Use FindTreatment.gov to search for programs near you
Worth avoiding
- Using stimulants alone
- Mixing stimulants with alcohol or opioids
- Taking a friend's prescription stimulant to study or stay awake
Related topics
- Epilepsy: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Brain Health)
- Heat and Medications: What Published Guidance Supports (Heat, Cold and Weather Safety)
- Traveling with Medicines: What Published Guidance Supports (Travel Health)
- The Evidence on Stress, Without the Hype (Mental Health)
Where to go next
- The Stimulant Use Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
- Myths About Stimulant Use, Checked Against the Guidance
- Stimulant Use — the reference entry
- Substance Use: The Complete Guide
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: What Published Guidance Supports
- Finding Substance Use Treatment: What Published Guidance Supports
When to speak to a doctor
Call 911 for chest pain, seizures, very high body temperature, severe agitation or confusion, signs of stroke, or slow or stopped breathing. Give naloxone if breathing is slow or stopped.
Where this comes from
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — Methamphetamine DrugFacts
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — Cocaine DrugFacts
- CDC — Stimulant Guide
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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