Stimulant Addiction Is a Growing Yet Treatable Threat

Key points

Stimulant use disorder is on the rise, with fatal consequences.

Some medications, though none are FDA-approved, may help with stimulant addiction.

These medications are used for other general medical conditions.

Stimulant use is speeding up in the U.S., driving a new trend in overdose deaths. While no medication has been FDA-approved for stimulant addiction, a handful demonstrate off-label evidence. These include drugs commonly prescribed in primary care to treat other conditions. Primary care providers can themselves to bring us down from dangerous highs in stimulant use and related mortality.

In 2022, 10.2 million people ages 12 and older misused cocaine, methamphetamines, and/or prescription stimulant medications— 1 million more than the previous year. Approximatel