Amphetamines basics
Find out all the basics about amphetamines in this fact sheet, including what they are, how they work, and how they affect your mental and physical health.
Summary
- Amphetamines are a group of synthetic (man-made) stimulant drugs.
- Amphetamines work by releasing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin into the brain.
- If amphetamines are used regularly the brain can be overwhelmed and can shut down the transmitters and receivers responsible for releasing and receiving neurotransmitters in the brain. This can leave you feeling depressed for months after you have stopped using, while your brain recovers.
- Heavy and/or regular use of amphetamines can cause a drug-induced psychotic episode and can also trigger a relapse of psychotic symptoms.
What are amphetamines?
Amphetamines are a group of stimulant drugs, including some forms of methamphetamine. The most common form of the drug is amphetamine sulphate. Street names include speed, goey, gas, base, whizz, uppers, sulphate, sulph, pep pills.
Information about crystal methamphetamine can be found on the Ice factsheet.
Some forms of amphetamine are government-regulated and are available through prescription to treat disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy.
Amphetamines are synthetic (man-made) drug which are made illegally in makeshift laboratories with no quality control. As there is no regulation in the production of amphetamines, it varies greatly in quality and can be as little as 5% pure, the other 95% being fillers like talcum powder used to bulk it out and make it go further. Speed usually comes in the form of a white powder although colours and texture do vary.
How do amphetamines work?
Amphetamines work by releasing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin into the brain. These neurotransmitters are chemicals made by the brain that regulate our feelings, thoughts and actions. Dopamine is a feel good chemical responsible for pleasure. Noradrenaline is a fight or flight chemical which increases heart rate and blood pressure, dilates pupils for better vision and constricts blood vessels in organs that are not needed for defence.
When amphetamines reach the brain they forces the brain to release most of its dopamine and noradrenaline at once, producing feelings of euphoria, high energy and alertness. This depletes neurotransmitter levels in the brain which can cause you to feel depressed for days after using, while your brain is building back its stores of dopamine and noradrenaline.
Check out how amphetamines affect dopamine levels in the brain here:
Acknowledgement: Bluebelly
If amphetamines are used regularly the brain can be overwhelmed and can shut down the transmitters and receivers responsible for releasing and receiving neurotransmitters in the brain. This can leave you feeling depressed for months after you have stopped using, while your brain recovers.
It can take anywhere from a few months to a year for the brain to return to normal functioning after a regular user has stopped using amphetamines.
Classification
Amphetamines are classified as a stimulant. Stimulants affect the central nervous system by speeding up messages going to and from the brain. Stimulants cause breathing rate and heartbeat to speed up and body temperature to rise.
How are amphetamines used?
- Ingested (eaten): Amphetamines can come in pill form or can be wrapped in paper or put in gelatine capsules and swallowed. It can also be dissolved in water and drunk. When it is absorbed through the lining of the stomach, it produces effects within 20 – 30 minutes.
- Snorted: Snorting amphetamines produces effects more quickly than swallowing but can damage the nose.
- Smoked: When amphetamines are smoked effects can take effect very quickly.
- Injected: When injected amphetamines takes effect in 5 - 10 seconds. This is the most dangerous way to use speed as it bypasses all of the body’s natural defences by putting the drug straight into the bloodstream.
Immediate effects of amphetamines
Physiological effects
- feelings of euphoria (happiness)
- increased confidence
- increased alertness
- increased libido (sex drive)
- high energy levels
- disorganised thought and speech patterns
- sense of well being
- increased sociability and talkativeness
- paranoia and psychosis.
Paranoia and psychosis is perhaps the major harm from using methamphetamine, with the most research supporting it. Psychosis is similar to paranoid schizophrenia. The psychosis can cause hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. People with amphetamine psychosis can exhibit bizarre and sometimes violent behaviour.
Physical effects
- reduced appetite
- tremors in hands and fingers
- increased body temperature
- increased blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- sweating
- insomnia
- dilated pupils
- dry mouth
- stomach cramps
- nausea
- dizziness
- headaches
- blurred vision
- itching, picking, scratching.
Effects from regular amphetamines use
Regular use of amphetamines can result in a number of health issues, including:
- High blood pressure and increased risk of heart-related complications such as heart attack.
- Rapid weight loss and malnutrition due to reduced appetite.
- Chronic sleeping problems.
- Increased risk of a stroke.
- Premature ageing.
- Skin lesions.
- Increased risk of kidney problems.
- Reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to infections due to the person not sleeping or eating properly.
- Increased risk of psychosis.
- Depression, anxiety, tension.
- Dental problems (from grinding teeth).
- Snorting speed can damage the lining of the nose.
- Injecting amphetamiens can lead to scarring, abscesses, vein damage and gangrene. Sharing injecting equipment increases the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
Mental health and amphetamines
Heavy and/or regular use of amphetamines can cause a drug-induced psychotic episode and can also trigger a relapse of psychotic symptoms if you already have a mental illness. In some cases the symptoms may continue for days or even weeks after the drug has worn off.
Are amphetamines addictive?
People who use speed can quickly develop a tolerance to the drug so that increasingly greater doses are needed to achieve the desired effects. Ice is an extremely addictive substance and can also lead to physical and/or psychological dependence.
People who are addicted to ice often find that using it becomes far more important than real life, and can find it very difficult to stop using it as they begin to crave the drug while a person’s body adapts and gets used to functioning with the drug present.
If you suddenly stop taking amphetamines after a period of regular use you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the symptoms you can experience once you have stopped using amphetamines include:
- disorientation
- hunger
- exhaustion
- decreased energy and apathy
- limited ability to experience pleasure (because of depleted levels of dopamine)
- anxiety
- irritability
- depression (the length and severity of the depression is related to how much and how often speed was used).
The law and amphetamines
Some amphetamine-based drugs can be prescribed by doctors for conditions such as narcolepsy. Ritalin, a dexamphetamine, is used to treat hyperactivity in children. Other than these few specialised cases, using speed is illegal. If you use, sell or give speed to someone else and get caught, you could face substantial fines and penalties including a prison sentence.
This fact sheet was prepared with assistance from the Australian Drug Foundation.
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