A curated, vetted directory of 40+ resources
For people using, quitting, or living without Adderall. Crisis resources come first; everything else is organized by need. All phone numbers and URLs were verified current as of June 2026.
The single most important clinical fact: There is no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder. The strongest evidence is for behavioral approaches — contingency management, CBT, and the Matrix Model — plus peer support. Never stop a prescribed medication without consulting your prescriber.
Best for: Anyone in acute distress, especially in-transition quitters facing the crash and suicidal ideation.
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Free, confidential, 24/7. Connects you to a trained crisis counselor for suicidal thoughts, substance crises, or any emotional distress. You do not have to be suicidal to call. Veterans press 1; Spanish press 2; ASL available.
1-800-662-HELP (4357), TTY 1-800-487-4889. Free, confidential, 24/7/365, English and Spanish. A treatment-referral and information service (not a counseling line) that routes you to local treatment, support groups, and community organizations. You can also text your ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U).
SAMHSA's confidential, anonymous locator for state-licensed substance-use and mental-health treatment across all 50 states and territories; filter by treatment type, services, and payment accepted (including options for the uninsured). Best for anyone ready to find professional care.
Text HOME to 741741. Free, confidential, 24/7. Text-based crisis support with a trained volunteer — useful for people more comfortable texting than talking.
Best for: Every ICP — the core of The Focus Group's model. Try several; fit matters more than format.
A secular, science-based program built on CBT and motivational interviewing, organized around a 4-Point Program: building motivation; coping with urges; managing thoughts/feelings/behaviors; living a balanced life. Free online and in-person meetings worldwide, plus an app and downloadable toolkit. Best fit for the functional dependent who rejects the 'addict' label and wants practical skills.
Downloadable, fillable worksheets including the Cost-Benefit Analysis, the ABC tool (Activating event–Beliefs–Consequences) for disputing urges, Change Plan Worksheet, trigger identification, and urge-tracking.
Helpline 1-855-METH-FREE (1-855-638-4373). A 12-step fellowship for anyone seeking recovery from stimulants; many amphetamine users (including Adderall) attend because it is the most stimulant-specific 12-step option. In-person and online/hybrid meetings.
The largest 12-step fellowship for any drug; widespread in-person and virtual meetings. Best for those who want a traditional, abstinence-based, widely available program.
The original 12-step program; relevant for those with cross-addictions or who already have an AA home group. Free Meeting Guide app on iOS/Android.
A secular, abstinence-based, 'how was your week?' peer format emphasizing your Sober Self and a self-built Personal Recovery Program — no steps, no higher power. Good for those who want secular support but find SMART's worksheet structure too clinical.
A peer-led, Buddhist-inspired program using meditation, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path; 200+ online meetings. Best for those drawn to mindfulness and a non-theistic spiritual framing.
An online recovery social network hosting many live video meetings across multiple fellowships (12-step and non-12-step). Useful for people who cannot access local meetings or want anonymity.
A peer recovery community and safe space for anyone affected by stimulant dependence — Pro-Recovery and not Anti-Psych or Anti-ADHD. Tens of thousands of members. Run by peers, not professionals — a supplement to, not a substitute for, care.
An abstinence-based, self-empowerment 'New Life' program for women that uses CBT-style positivity techniques; good for women who find 12-step language difficult.
Best for: The functional dependent who responds to data, and anyone wanting non-marketing facts.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse's plain-language overview: how amphetamines work, health risks (psychosis, cardiac effects), and the key fact that there are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant use disorders, while CBT and contingency management can be effective.
Per NIDA citing the 2021 NSDUH: 1.3% (about 3.7 million people) reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past 12 months; about 0.5% of people 12+ had a past-year prescription stimulant use disorder.
Full Matrix Model manuals and client handbooks for stimulant use disorder — the evidence-based, 16-week structured outpatient protocol. Primarily for clinicians, but the client workbook is useful for individuals and peer facilitators.
A 2018 multisite pilot study (Weyandt, White et al., Pharmacy) found that in healthy college students without ADHD, a 30 mg dose of Adderall did not improve reading comprehension or fluency and impaired working memory, while raising mood, heart rate, and blood pressure. The felt sense of productivity may be largely motivational rather than genuine cognitive enhancement.
Peer-reviewed review (Brain and Behavior, 2012) concluding stimulants do not raise IQ and offer limited genuine cognitive benefit in non-ADHD users, while carrying real risks (psychosis, cardiac events, addiction).
Best for: Anyone considering structured care; the in-transition and shortage-forced quitters.
The single best-supported treatment for stimulant use disorder, per NIDA: patients earn vouchers or small cash rewards for drug-free urine tests. Ask treatment providers or your clinician whether CM is available; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers it system-wide.
A SAMHSA-endorsed, evidence-based 16-week intensive outpatient approach combining CBT, contingency management, family education, relapse prevention, and 12-step support. Ask local IOPs whether they use it.
The leading directory of therapists, psychiatrists, and treatment centers; filter by specialty (addiction, ADHD), insurance, telehealth, sliding scale. Best for finding a CBT therapist or a prescriber for ADHD reassessment.
Also the best starting point for locating IOP, outpatient, and telehealth options for stimulant use disorder.
Best for: The reluctant quitter and shortage-forced quitter facing involuntary withdrawal.
An initial crash begins within hours to ~36 hours of the last dose — extreme fatigue, increased sleep, increased appetite, depression, and cravings. Acute symptoms (roughly days 4–10) can include headaches, body aches, irritability, anxiety, low motivation, and difficulty concentrating. A subacute phase of intermittent low mood and cravings can last weeks; mood and energy generally improve within 1–3 months. Some people experience longer post-acute symptoms.
Amphetamine withdrawal is usually not life-threatening, but it can be severe enough to trigger relapse — and the depression can include suicidal ideation, which requires urgent help (988). Do not stop a prescribed medication abruptly on your own; talk to your prescriber about a gradual taper. Seek medical supervision if you have severe depression, suicidal thoughts, or co-occurring conditions.
Much online withdrawal content is published by for-profit rehab facilities. The clinical pattern above is consistent across sources, but treat any specific facility's site as marketing and prioritize your own prescriber, Medical News Today, and government resources.
Best for: People with genuine ADHD who need non-stimulant or behavioral strategies; the functional dependent reassessing whether they have ADHD.
The leading ADHD nonprofit; hosts the CDC-funded National Resource Center on ADHD. Authoritative, non-commercial guides on medication (including non-stimulants), behavioral strategies, and finding providers. Notes that the non-stimulants atomoxetine, guanfacine, and bupropion are considered good choices for people in substance-abuse treatment.
Focused specifically on adults with ADHD; covers therapy options, executive-function strategies, and non-medication approaches. Best for adults wanting peer webinars and adult-specific coaching content.
Four non-stimulants are FDA-approved for ADHD — atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree), guanfacine (Intuniv), and clonidine (Kapvay) — and bupropion is used off-label. These have low/no abuse potential, making them relevant for people with both ADHD and stimulant use disorder. This is information, not medical advice — decisions belong with your prescriber.
A widely respected ADHD information source with practical, expert-reviewed articles on medication, behavioral strategies, and living with ADHD.
Best for: Everyone — the practical skills layer of recovery.
A mindfulness technique (taught in SMART Recovery and CBT) of observing a craving rise, peak, and fall like a wave without acting on it. Free guides and audio are widely available through SMART Recovery and meditation apps.
The cost-benefit analysis and ABC tools are directly applicable to 'I can't work without it' beliefs.
One of the largest free libraries of guided meditations (300,000+ tracks), including urge-management, anxiety, sleep, and focus practices. Optional MemberPlus (~$60/year) adds courses and offline access. Best low-cost mindfulness option.
Structured, beginner-friendly guided meditation courses including focus and stress programs. ~$70/year; free trial.
Strong on sleep (Sleep Stories) and relaxation — useful for the insomnia common in early stimulant recovery. ~$70/year; free trial.
Both are evidence-supported for mood, focus, and ADHD symptom management. Restoring sleep is especially important during the crash, when sleep-wake cycles are disrupted.
Best for: Daily tracking, accountability, and motivation between meetings.
Tracks days sober to the second, money/time saved, milestones, daily pledges, and includes a withdrawal timeline and community forums. Optional Sober Plus ~$120/year. One of the most popular and well-reviewed sobriety trackers.
Built by a licensed chemical-dependency counselor; offers daily motivational messages, a sober-day counter, money-saved tracking, and an active community forum. A strong fully-free option.
Find and join SMART meetings, access tools and worksheets, and track progress from your phone.
Best for: People who want depth on ADHD, habits, and recovery.
The classic, widely respected reference on ADHD in children and adults; balances symptoms and treatment with a strengths-based view. Best for newly diagnosed adults.
An updated, science-based, optimistic guide with lifestyle strategies (exercise, environment, connection) for thriving with ADHD without over-relying on medication.
A grounded, science-backed guide from one of the foremost ADHD researchers; strong on treatment decisions and what to expect from medication.
A practical habit-formation framework (small habits, systems over goals, the two-minute rule) that many with ADHD and in recovery find especially actionable for building focus routines without stimulants.
A part-memoir exploration of how environment and trauma shape attention; useful for those exploring the roots of both ADHD and substance use.
The only national association for Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) — campus-based recovery communities offering sober support, often with dedicated space and staff. Best for students misusing study drugs; 183+ institutional members. Also: your campus counseling center, typically free and confidential.
Helpline 1-866-662-1235 (Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm ET), staffed by licensed therapists. Also runs the findEDhelp.com treatment directory. Use this number, not the old NEDA helpline (discontinued in 2023). Another verified option: ANAD helpline, 1-888-375-7767 (Mon–Fri, 10am–10pm ET).
Secular meetings based on SMART tools and CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), which research shows gets more reluctant loved ones into treatment than confrontation or Al-Anon alone.
12-step support for families and friends of people with substance problems; widely available in person and online.
Best for: People not ready to quit, the functional dependent, and the shortage-forced who may seek risky substitutes.
The FDA posted a shortage of immediate-release amphetamine mixed salts (Adderall) on October 12, 2022, and it remains active into 2026 across both IR and XR formulations — driven by DEA quotas, manufacturing issues, and increased demand. On June 13, 2024, the CDC issued HAN advisory CDCHAN-00510 warning that disrupted access could increase risk of injury and overdose, partly because people who lose access turn to illicit stimulants. The DEA reports that lab testing finds 7 out of 10 seized counterfeit pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. If you've lost your prescription, talk to your prescriber rather than buying pills online or from others.
Judgment-free, and does not require you to commit to quitting — a safe first call for someone just exploring options.
If you are not ready to stop, you can still reduce harm — don't mix stimulants with other drugs or alcohol, don't use to dangerously suppress sleep or food, never use someone else's prescription, and never use counterfeit pills. Honest tracking builds the self-awareness that often precedes change.
Benchmarks that should change your approach