The Dangers of Mixing Adderall and Marijuana

Medically Verified: 2/1/24

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All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Adderall is a prescription medication that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While Adderall is highly effective in providing relief for ADHD symptoms, it can be addictive when abused.

Adderall misuse is most common among young adults, as people tend to use this substance to stay awake for long hours to focus on studying or to stay awake to party. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, “An estimated 2.3% of 8th graders, 2.9% of 10th graders, and 3.4% of 12th graders reported misusing Adderall in the past 12 months.”[1]

Another substance that is commonly abused among young adults is marijuana. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that “an estimated 8.3% of 8th graders, 19.5% of 10th graders, and 30.7% of 12th graders reported using cannabis/hashish in the past 12 months.”[2]

Because Adderall and marijuana are commonly misused among teenage children, it is important to be aware of the dangers of mixing the two substances.

What are the Effects of Adderall?

Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant, which means it increases activity in your brain, causing an increase in alertness and concentration. As a result, Adderall is effective in managing the symptoms of ADHD.

The stimulant effects of Adderall are also desirable to people who abuse substances. Additionally, young adults might begin to abuse Adderall to study for school tests.

Common side effects of Adderall include:[3]

• Increased energy
• Wakefulness
• Heightened alertness
• Feeling invincible
• A rush of euphoria
• Sharpened focus or concentration
• Aggression or violent behavior
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Difficulty sleeping
• Rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure
• Sweating
• Racing thoughts
• Changes in appetite and weight loss

What are the Effects of Marijuana?

Marijuana is a plant (Cannabis sativa) that people often abuse to experience feelings of euphoria and relaxation. While marijuana is legal for medicinal and recreational use in some states, it remains federally illegal. The classification of this substance is highly debated, as it can cause stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effects depending on the person consuming it.

Common side effects of marijuana include:[4]

• Euphoria
• Relaxation
• Heightened sensory perception
• Laughter
• Altered perception of time
• Increased appetite
• Anxiety, panic, and paranoia
• Acute psychosis

Because the effects of marijuana can be unpredictable, you should always use caution when  abusing it. It is especially important to avoid mixing cannabis with other substances, as it could interact negatively with some drugs or medications.

What are the Dangers of Combining Adderall and Marijuana?

Many people who abuse Adderall might think that smoking weed while they are on the medication is safe, however, there are some risks you should be aware of. While marijuana does not lead to life-threatening overdose symptoms, Adderall can. Additionally, both substances are known to be addictive.

Addiction

If you are smoking marijuana and taking Adderall at the same time, you are engaging in polysubstance abuse.[5] This means that you are abusing two substances at once. Polysubstance abuse is known to increase the chances of developing an addiction.

Adderall and marijuana addiction should always be taken seriously, as they both require professional drug rehab to achieve long-term sobriety.

Psychosis

Another risk of mixing Adderall and cannabis is psychosis. Psychosis is a condition that involves experiencing hallucinations, delusions, and a detachment from reality. Both Adderall and marijuana can lead to psychosis separately when taken in extremely high dosages.[6]

When you mix two substances that can lead to psychosis, your risk of experiencing the condition increases exponentially. Oftentimes, psychosis can put you or the people around you at risk of being injured or hurt. Drug-induced psychosis should always be treated swiftly and professionally.

Overdose

When you are mixing marijuana and Adderall, the effects of marijuana can make you feel like your Adderall is not working properly because marijuana can cause drowsiness, while Adderall is intended to increase energy. As a result, you might decide to take more Adderall.

Taking large amounts of Adderall at once can lead to a life-threatening overdose. The symptoms of an Adderall overdose include:[7]

• Restlessness
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Fast breathing
• Shaking
• Rapid or erratic heartbeat
• Blurry vision
• Weakness
• Fainting
• Seizures
• Heart attacks
• Coma
• Death

If you believe that you or someone you love is experiencing an Adderall overdose, contact emergency medical services immediately. Adderall overdoses can become fatal or cause long-term damage without professional treatment.

Find Help for Marijuana and Adderall Abuse

Combining Adderall and weed can cause you to become addicted to both substances, experience drug-induced psychosis, and lead to an Adderall overdose. Because of these risks, you should always seek drug rehab to help you achieve long-term sobriety.

To learn more about our substance abuse treatment programs or to find help or yourself or a loved one, contact Carolina Center for Recovery today.

References:

1. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/what-scope-prescription-drug-misuse
2. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-scope-marijuana-use-in-united-states
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165228/
4. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuana-effects
5. https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/polysubstance-use/index.html
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8732862/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470276/