The Long-Term Effects of Stimulants: What You Need to Know
Stimulants, or “uppers” as they’re commonlu known, can have lasting and sometimes devastating effects on both the mind and body—especially when used over long periods. Whether someone begins taking stimulant medications for treating ADHD or engages in recreational drug use, long-term stimulant use can cause physical, psychological, and emotional harm that’s often hidden beneath the surface.
Serenity Light Recovery is a wellness center near Houston, Texas that embraces a holistic approach to healing, focusing on both addiction and mental health. Here, we help individuals recover from stimulant use disorder through evidence-based care, behavioral therapy, and compassionate support. If you or a loved one is struggling, you’re not alone—and healing is possible. Founded by Heather Ogburn Stokes and Dr. H.M. Ogburn, we’re a family-owned wellness center with a mission to offer care that nurtures the whole person.
What Are Stimulants?
Stimulants are a class of CNS drugs (central nervous system drugs) that increase energy, alertness, and focus. These effects are especially helpful for people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is why many stimulant medications are used in treating ADHD. However, stimulants also raise blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature—making them potentially dangerous when misused.
There are two main drug classes of stimulants: prescription stimulants and illicit stimulants. While both types can be misused, illicit stimulant use generally poses greater risks and long-term damage.
Common Stimulants Include:
Prescription stimulant medications such as Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and Phentermine
Methamphetamine
Cocaine and crack cocaine
MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly)
Stimulant medication use for deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD is often safe under medical supervision. But misuse—especially when the medication dosage is too high or taken without a prescription—can lead to substance use disorders, severe health complications, or full-blown addiction.
Physical Long-Term Effects of Stimulants
The long-term effects of stimulants on the body are most often seen in the cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Stimulants elevate blood pressure and heart rate, putting people at increased risk of:
Chest pain
Heart disease
Elevated blood pressure
Irregular heartbeat or heart failure
Long-term stimulant use disorder can also cause decreased appetite, leading to extreme weight loss, muscle deterioration, and nutritional deficiencies. These physical complications may arise from the stimulant’s effects or from poor self-care during periods of extended drug use.
Other physical consequences include:
Gastrointestinal problems
Acute intoxication risks
Hormonal imbalances
Sleep disturbances
Impact on the Brain and Mental Health
Stimulants alter brain chemistry—particularly the dopaminergic system, which regulates reward and pleasure. Over time, stimulant therapy or misuse can lead to:
Dopamine depletion
Reduced gray matter
Damage to receptor neurons
Structural changes in brain areas tied to behavior and emotion
These changes can produce lasting mental disorders, including severe depression, anxiety, and difficulty experiencing joy without stimulant use. Long-term use is also linked to psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or paranoia, particularly among those with a family history of mental disorders.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recognizes stimulant use disorder as a diagnosable and treatable condition—just like other substance abuse or substance use disorders. Recognizing the seriousness of these effects is a vital first step toward healing.
Psychological and Emotional Consequences
Many people misuse stimulant medications to boost productivity or control ADHD symptoms—but over time, they may find themselves emotionally unstable or disconnected. They can experience:
Severe depression
Anxiety and panic
Aggression or irritability
Fatigue and lack of motivation
Paranoia and psychotic symptoms
Memory problems and poor impulse control
These outcomes can impact careers, relationships, and personal identity. Frankly, it can impact the trajectory of a person’s life. With proper care, however, the brain can begin to heal and rewire itself.
Route of Administration Matters
How stimulants are taken significantly affects their impact. Stimulant medication use in tablet form generally has slower absorption and fewer complications. In contrast, snorting, smoking, or injecting increases the intensity and speed of effects—raising the risk of addiction, cardiovascular damage, and acute intoxication.
For example:
Oral use = slower onset, lower risk
Snorting (common with prescription stimulants or cocaine) = faster high, more risk
Smoking (meth, crack) = rapid absorption and high risk of substance abuse
Injection = immediate effects, high risk of overdose and infection
Treatment at Serenity Light Recovery
Addiction and mental health challenges often stem from underlying emotional struggles, such as loneliness or disconnection. At Serenity Light Recovery, we aim to help individuals heal by addressing the root causes of these challenges in a nurturing, holistic way. If you’re looking for a wellness-focused recovery journey in Houston, Serenity Light Recovery is here to guide you. Our programs are grounded in 12-step principles, trauma-informed care, and clinically sound therapies tailored to the individual. We create a safe, peaceful space for you to heal—body, mind, and spirit.
Our Services Include:
Behavioral therapy and individual therapy
Treatment for co-occurring mental disorders
Education on healthy stimulant medication use and non stimulant medication alternatives
Holistic practices to treat the whole person
Support for individuals with a history of treating ADHD or misusing ADHD medication
Aftercare planning, sober living services, and relapse prevention
We align with standards set by the Mental Health Services Administration, ensuring high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based treatment. Whether you’re experiencing stimulant-related weight loss, increased blood pressure, or psychological symptoms, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Start Your Recovery Today
Healing from stimulant addiction takes courage—but you don’t have to do it alone. At Serenity Light Recovery, we help individuals break free from addiction and reclaim their health, purpose, and peace.
Call us at (281) 431-6700 today to learn more about how we treat stimulant use disorder and other substance use disorders in a compassionate and comprehensive way.
Start today. Find serenity in the Chaos.
FAQs About The Long-Term Effects of Stimulant Use
Are stimulants considered controlled substances?
Yes. Many prescription stimulants—such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse—are classified as controlled substances due to their high potential for misuse and addiction. They are regulated by the DEA and should only be used under a doctor’s supervision.
Can long-term stimulant use lead to weight gain?
Stimulants are more commonly associated with weight loss due to decreased appetite, but after stopping use, some individuals experience weight gain as appetite returns and metabolism adjusts. Managing nutrition during recovery is essential to overall health.
How do stimulants affect nerve cells in the brain?
Stimulants increase the activity of nerve cells by elevating neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. Over time, this can damage the brain’s communication systems, alter mood regulation, and impair memory and decision-making.
Are stimulants safe for children younger than a certain age?
Stimulant medications are sometimes prescribed to children younger than 12 for treating ADHD, but only under close medical supervision. The effects of these drugs on developing brains are still being studied, and dosage must be carefully managed to avoid potential negative effects.
How do stimulants impact body movement and coordination?
Long-term stimulant use can disrupt normal body movement, causing restlessness, tremors, or even tics. These issues may result from overstimulation of the central nervous system and can become worse with continued use or high dosages.
Can stimulants cause mood swings or emotional instability?
Yes. One of the potential negative effects of stimulant use is mood swings, including periods of high energy followed by emotional crashes. Users may also experience irritability, aggression, and increased anxiety as part of the long-term impact on brain chemistry.
What happens when stimulants are combined with other drugs?
Mixing stimulants with other drugs—especially depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines—can create dangerous and unpredictable effects. These combinations increase the risk of overdose, cardiac issues, and serious mental health complications.
As our CEO, Heather’s main calling is to stay true to the vision of the organization, which is saving lives and striving to redefine statistics by raising the standard of care with evolving treatment methods. Heather studied psychology at LSU and both the main and Clear Lake campuses of the University of Houston, and she is a certified IASIS provider and CPI instructor. She’s been helping people in recovery since 2011. Heather’s motto to live by is “I am not what I’ve done; I am what I’ve overcome.”