All stimulants have the potential to result in dependence and addiction. One type of stimulant that has been around since the 1960s but has recently seen a resurgence is black beauties. But what are black beauties? Learn more about them and substance abuse treatment by contacting BlueCrest Recovery online or calling 888.292.9652 today.
What Are Black Beauties?
Black beauties are pills that contain amphetamine and dextroamphetamine as their main ingredients. These are prescription drugs that help with the treatments of obesity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy. Amphetamines stimulate the release of norepinephrine and dopamine while inhibiting the reuptake process, leading to an increased sense of alertness, decreased appetite, and euphoria.
Long-term use of black beauties can lead to serious health issues, including:
- Cardiovascular problems
- Severe weight loss
- Impaired memory
- Skin ulcers
- Aggressive behavior
- Depression
- Persistent hallucinations
- Dental deterioration
- Insomnia
Dextroamphetamine, the other ingredient in black beauties, is a drug doctors primarily prescribe for the treatment of ADHD. It is also a stimulant and can quickly lead to addiction.
The Impact of Black Beauties on the Brain
Prescription stimulants like amphetamines increase brain chemical activity levels. The drug impacts the brain’s reward center by affecting dopamine, leading it to crave more of the substance. Your brain is set up to feel pleasure and get rewards via dopamine surges when you eat, have sex, and do other activities. However, the release of dopamine that occurs after using amphetamines is much greater than the amounts those natural activities cause. As dopamine levels drop, so does pleasure.
When you use stimulants again and feel pleasure, it reinforces the activity and motivates you to repeat the use. Stimulants also target norepinephrine, which impacts blood pressure, blood vessels, blood sugar, breathing, and heart rate.
Stimulants like black beauties change the brain’s structure, damaging processes like memory, learning, and other cognitive functions. This contributes to the development of an addiction.
How to Treat a Stimulant Use Disorder
If you have developed an addiction to stimulants like black beauties, stopping the use of the drugs can be very difficult to do on your own. The majority of people need to turn to treatment programs to get help.
At BlueCrest Recovery, we offer outpatient treatment programs that aid you in getting sober without requiring that you stay at our facilities overnight, as you would have to do during inpatient treatments. Our highest level of care is our partial hospitalization program (PHP), which offers many hours of therapy per week.
A PHP includes individual and group therapy sessions to help you come to terms with the addiction and learn what your triggers are. You also get the chance to speak with others who are struggling with addiction. Those who need fewer hours of care can benefit from our intensive outpatient program (IOP). Our IOP is an option that gives you more independence while still providing a good amount of support. We also offer standard outpatient services for those who require continued support but who can’t spend as many hours in treatment as they would have to do in PHP or IOP.
These treatment programs include individual and group therapy sessions that rely on cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy. These therapies help you understand what led to the addiction so that you can make the necessary changes to your behavior and thought processes.
Enroll in Substance Abuse Treatment at BlueCrest Recovery
Black beauties and other stimulants are addictive, quickly leading to dependence and making it more difficult for you to quit using them. If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, you can reach out to us for help. Contact BlueCrest Recovery online or call 888.292.9652 today to learn more about our treatment options.
