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Are you concerned about yourself or about a Veteran in a substance use-related crisis?
Get support anytime day or night
If you see someone showing symptoms of overdose or who is in immediate danger, dial 911.
If you're worried that you or a loved one is at risk of overdosing, it's important that you talk to a specialist right away. The following resources offer free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Veterans Crisis Line
The SAMHSA National Helpline offers confidential, free help from public health agencies that can point you to substance use treatment and information.
Stimulant Use Disorder
Stimulant use disorder is the continued use of stimulants despite harm to the user. Stimulants include cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly), and prescription drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin.
In recent years, the rate of fatal overdose when using stimulants has increased , with more than half the deaths related to illicit stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine involving fentanyl or other opioids.
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Misuse of stimulants can cause users to experience the following side effects:
Elevated heart rate
Dilated pupils
Increased blood pressure
Sweating or chills
Nausea or vomiting
Chest pain
Stimulant misuse can lead to:
Heart attack
Stroke
Severe weight loss or dental problems
Violent behavior and psychosis
Paranoia, anxiety, and confusion
Loss of productivity at work
Overdose
Premature death
While there are no medications approved specifically for stimulant use disorder, VA offers proven, evidence-based treatments to treat Veterans diagnosed with stimulant use disorder. These include contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.
Veterans using nonprescribed stimulants should also talk to their health care provider about having naloxone , a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, on hand.
Explore more treatment options at VA on the Learn About Treatment page.
Seek Care at VA
Stimulant use disorder can be successfully treated:
Talk to your VA provider and learn more about the highly effective treatment options available.
Learn about VA programs that can help treat drug and alcohol use disorders.
Find information for providers .