[beaugunderson]

I have ADHD and am well-read on the subject. The passage I posted applies to both people with and without ADHD.

This is another passage from the same paper:

> As it remains unclear whether stimulant medication has the same effect on healthy individuals as for those with ADHD, it is possible that many reported effects of prescription stimulants in healthy individuals may stem from placebo effects.

If you have a citation that argues that stimulants affect people with and without ADHD differently I’d love to read it.

[jkaplowitz]

The passage you cited in the comment I am currently replying to doesn't say there is no difference. It says that it isn't clear either way. So right now we just have anecdotes until someone cites a study making an assertion either way.

Here's my anecdote which runs quite opposite yours: As another person with ADHD who has been prescribed a low dose of Adderall XR in the past, it's always been an unpleasant experience for me, to the extent that the prescription bottle said "as needed for academic work". It did help me focus for a few hours, although whether I focused on the important things or distractions was up to my non-medicinal coping strategies among other factors. Unfortunately, disruptive and uncomfortable side effects lasted far longer than the period of improved focus.

Nothing I just described matches my understanding of how neurotypical people enjoy Adderall as a recreational drug.I don't think I've ever once in my life actually wanted to take it or enjoyed the experience, not even on those occasions where I chose to take it (the last of which was almost a decade ago) because of the beneficial effects it was prescribed for.

[afarviral]

Sounds like you just hadnt pushed past the physical side-effects and in to euphoric terratory...not suggesting you try. Just that I know non-adhd people who find stimulant side-effects unpleasant enough to conclude that they dont enjoy them.