Comment by htsh | Hacker News Reader

Comment by htsh | Hacker News Reader

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You might be scientifically right in questioning the veracity of that specific statement but at the same time its generally true and good advice. In other words, Adderall is a powerful drug with some potentially serious side effects. If you haven't been prescribed it, chances are it'll end up bad.

For example, its got a high chance of ending up poorly if you have any sleep issues, if you have depression, if you have an addictive personality, if you're an alcoholic, or if you smoke weed (generally the paranoia one experiences from weed can make amphetamines even more dangerous).

I think that's why folks are downvoting you. You might have a small point here, but its rather nitpicky. If you don't have ADD and you're using Adderall all the time, I'd bet money its going to hurt someone, which is all the OP said.

But I think you're confusing "being prescribed" and "having ADHD". Plenty of people are prescribed Adderall without having any real tests done, just by saying "I can't focus!" because they want a study helper.

All I'm saying is there are health risks regardless of your ADHD. It isn't as if having ADHD magically makes me immune to the side effects of Adderall. I have trouble sleeping at times and other weird effects, too. I keep my doctor up to date and get regularly checked up on.

Also, you can have ADHD and be an alcoholic / smoke weed / be paranoid / depressed. As I said, I 100% agree you should go to a doctor... I'm just saying that my ADHD doesn't give me "amphetamine immunity" or anything magical.

1. You might be right that its too easy to get, but that's changing, and Adderall is a class 2 controlled substance. By the books, it should not be easy to get.

2. Completely agreed -- if you take a lot of Adderall, it can be bad regardless of whether or not you have ADD. One of the common bad outcomes results from a lack of sleep after prolonged use, and that happens across the board.

3. I meant to say that if you're an alcoholic / smoke weed / depressed / addictive personality -- you should be screened from taking Adderall, not that you can't have ADHD. In fact, many folks self-medicate their ADD by smoking weed.

I was under the impression that side effects were more common/more severe if you don't have ADHD. I stand corrected. :)

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