Taken for a short period each morning at a low dose (cut an 8mg patch into sections) it offers similar stimulant effects, but with fewer side-effects. Nicotine patches are reportedly less agitating, less addictive, less expensive, and more available than Adderall. It also measurably improves cognitive ability according to some studies I've read online.
I'm almost 40 years old, and I have ADHD-inattentive. For two weeks I've been using sections of nicotine patches - about 1/4 of an 8mg patch for an hour each morning, and I have never found it more easy to be focused and productive.
Just be careful to not use too much, especially if you've never been a recreational nicotine user. I've had several nights when it's been difficult to sleep -- which has been a signal that I need to decrease the morning dose.
(I'm not a doctor, this is not medical advice)
The couple that referred me to my primary care doctor likes our doctor because it's very quick for them to renew their ADHD prescriptions.
BTW, I once tried 30 mg of Adderall and I felt like I would go crazy if I took it every day. I took it at 6:00 a.m. and I had heart palpitations, euphoria, and crazy insomnia past midnight. It's not really something that's as safe as coffee for the average person.
The fact that I have to call someone and get a prescription every month just makes it so that I go untreated for months at a time (kind of a cruel irony that ADHD treatment is gated behind the wherewithal to make a monthly phone call). And honestly I think modern life is probably such that most people could benefit from 10-20 mg of Adderall.