I've got to disagree here, except it's not quite that simple... yes, a lot of the ADHD medications can cause problems, especially if they are abused or not carefully prescribed and monitored by a professional who really understands this stuff. But they can also be very beneficial.
I was diagnosed with ADHD in my early thirties. I have been on Adderall or Adderall XR for most of the last ten years.
I've always been able to "hyperfocus" on things which interest me, and I've had more than a few obsessive hobby phases. Boring tasks (say, doing taxes or filling out expense reports) have been extremely difficult - not for lack of intelligence, but because it was almost impossible to stay focused.
The most significant impact Adderall has made for me personally is difficult to describe precisely, but I'll try. Without it, I can consciously choose to work on something, but it's as if my will has nothing to push against. I just can't stick to it unless it's interesting. With Adderall, when I'm choosing something I know I need to do, but don't necessarily want to do, those choices have a lot more traction. Doesn't necessarily make it easy, but it makes it manageable.
I have not noticed any reduction in my creativity, inspiration, or ability in the areas I am interested in (and I work at a pretty high level in some of those) while on Adderall. It has not in any way "taken the edge off" in the area's I've traditionally excelled at.
As for Adderall being addictive - I know it can be, but I don't believe it is automatically addictive. I have only once "run out of meds", and that was while switching to a new psychiatrist after moving. I have never bought it illegally. And I voluntarily and intentionally stopped taking them for days at a time, several times a year, without ending up depressed or stuck in bed.
OTOH, for those that have it, I cannot disagree with "wild and severe addiction to aderall" being "far worse than the ADD itself". I have watched people in my extended family nearly destroy their lives from abusing Adderall. It certainly has a dark side.
I would NEVER recommend trying it without an official diagnosis and a legitimate prescription. And trying to trick someone by misrepresenting the symptoms is a really bad idea. My understanding is that this could be seriously addictive stuff if you don't get the dosage right (and "right" is effectively zero for non-ADHD brains). I see a registered professional at least once every three months. It's not cheap, but for me it's almost indispensable. My job performance (which is extremely technical) can suffer noticeable if I stop taking it (which I occasionally do - intentionally).
I also am not a big proponent of medicating kids except as a last resort. My seven year old daughter is almost frighteningly like me in a lot of ways, and she definitely has ADHD. We have not, and hopefully will not, put her on medication for it. We are focusing on providing a supportive environment (understanding what she is going through is a huge help - my parents had no clue) and helping her learn how to cope with the challenges (and leverage the benefits) of her symptoms. Our goal is for her to be able to function well above average without medication by the time she leaves home.
There are many things other than medication (diet, exercise, education, consistent routines, ...) which can significantly reduce the frustration associated with ADHD. Medication is just one piece of the puzzle, but when used properly it can be a very helpful piece.
So back to where we started : I don't have much experience with other ADHD medications, but your characterization of Adderall is not quite balanced. It can be as bad as - even worse then - you described. But it can also be a very powerful positive factor in dealing with ADHD when used properly.
As far as Adderall goes, I'll leave it at that (this is already too long, but if I don't let it go I could be editing it all afternoon...).
One final thing : if you think you really have ADHD, getting a professional diagnosis from someone who specializes in ADHD (not just any psychiatrists) is a good idea, even if you don't want the drugs. For people with real ADHD, understanding why your brain does some of the crazy stuff you deal with daily, and learning how to organize your life to work in harmony with it, can be like getting a set up from God's own bass tech. You still have to put your fingers in the right spot, and maybe the intonation will never be perfect everywhere, but it's likely to end up far easier - and more enjoyable - then anything you were ever used to playing before..
