SPEED/AMPHETAMINE

Amphetamine is a potent stimulator of the central nervous system (brain and nerves of the spinal cord) and has a medicinal role in a number of diseases. It is also highly addictive and has a history of abuse.

Amphetamine is medically used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a disease characterized by bouts of intense, inappropriate sleepiness.
Amphetamine, to a lesser extent, is also used in the treatment of depression and obesity.

In this article, we will look at amphetamine’s medical usage, its side effects, and contraindications.

Amphetamines are synthetic stimulants. Their current medical use is limited, with only Dexedrine (dexamphetamine sulphate) currently available for use in the treatment of narcolepsy – where the patient cannot help suddenly falling asleep. The only other amphetamine-related drug available for medical use is methylphenidate (Ritalin) for the treatment of attention deficit syndrome in children (Ritalin is not strictly an amphetamine, though it is very similar in chemical structure and effects).

As a street drug, amphetamine usually comes as a white, grey, yellowish or pinky substance or as a putty-like form known as base. The purity of street products is less than 15 per cent, with most deals having only 10% amphetamine and the rest other substances like glucose, vitamin C, laxative, dried baby milk, caffeine, or other drugs such as paracetamol or aspirin.

Base is stronger at roughly 50 per cent purity or more, but this is declining. A similar, though some say stronger form of the drug, is methamphetamine. This comes as crystals (known as ice) or in tablet form.

It is snorted up the nose, mixed in a drink or, by some heavy users, prepared for injection. Base is usually swallowed or, because of its bad taste, wrapped in (cigarette) paper and bombed (swallowed). It can be snorted if dried out properly.

Methamphetamine is taken in a number of ways depending on the form. Pills are swallowed. In the crystal form, because the salt base has been removed, it can be easily ignited and smoked (in a similar way crack is to cocaine). It can also be swallowed or snorted.