Your Questions About Stimulant Use, Answered
Stimulant Use: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
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.
What is Stimulant Use?
The risks of cocaine, methamphetamine and misused prescription stimulants, which speed up the body and brain.
Why does it matter?
Stimulants can cause heart attacks, strokes and seizures, and many are now contaminated with fentanyl.
Effects on the body for Stimulant Use?
Raised heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Carry naloxone because of fentanyl contamination.
What is the most common mistake?
Using stimulants alone.
When should I see 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.
More questions, answered
Are prescription stimulants safe?
When taken as prescribed for conditions like ADHD, prescription stimulants are generally safe and effective under a doctor's care. Misusing them, by taking higher doses, taking someone else's pills or crushing and snorting them, raises the risk of addiction, heart problems and anxiety.
Why do I need naloxone if I only use stimulants?
Many stimulants sold illegally are contaminated with fentanyl. People who do not use opioids have no tolerance, so even small amounts can cause a fatal overdose. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose and can save a life.
What is a stimulant overdose?
A stimulant overdose can cause dangerously high body temperature, seizures, chest pain, heart attack, stroke and severe agitation or confusion. Call 911 right away. Keep the person cool and calm and stay with them until help arrives.
Is there medicine for stimulant use disorder?
There are no FDA-approved medicines specifically for stimulant use disorder. Treatment focuses on behavioral therapies like contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy. Your doctor may treat related conditions such as depression or sleep problems.
Why is mixing cocaine and alcohol dangerous?
When used together, cocaine and alcohol form a substance in the body that adds to the strain on the heart. This combination raises the risk of heart problems and sudden death more than either alone. Avoid mixing them.
How long does stimulant withdrawal last?
After stopping, people often feel exhausted, hungry and low for several days. Cravings, low mood and trouble sleeping can last weeks. Withdrawal is not usually physically dangerous, but depression can be severe. Get help right away if you have thoughts of suicide.
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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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