Will Manidis, who co-founded a company that’s using data to make healthcare more transparent, connected and equitable, recently tweeted about the insanity of society being “totally comfortable with endemic Adderall addiction among 30-something white-collar workers.” I couldn’t agree more. Adderall was intended to treat attention deficit hyperactive disorder and narcolepsy, but people are using it to stay up longer, as well as increase their focus and productivity at work, which has been happening for a while.
The abuse of this powerful drug started on college campuses. The fact is that it can have some serious health consequences and lead to dependence, myself included. I remember there was a time when I was starting my businesses while raising two daughters and felt that I really needed Adderall in order to be productive. But my physical and mental health suffered, and it took time for me to wean myself off of the drug. Side effects include massive changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping or maintaining concentration, mood swings, irritability, restlessness, paranoia and agitation.
If you don’t address the symptoms in time, they can lead to serious problems such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety and even psychosis. Some think Adderall is harmless, but it really isn’t and it’s important to pay attention to this issue. The quality of what I was doing was poor when I was taking Adderall, which affected my office culture, family and relationships. It rippled out. I was continuously anxious. But since breaking that addiction, I have never been healthier and more productive in my entire life.