Amphetamines

Amphetamines (Amphetamine sulphate, dexamphetamine sulphate, dextroamphetamine, methylamphetamine)

Street names

Speed, Whizz, Powder, Billy, Sulph, Amph, Uppers

General Info

Amphetamines are synthetic stimulants made in laboratories and are available in tablet, liquid or powder form. They most commonly come in a grey or white powder that can be snorted, swallowed, smoked, injected or dissolved in a drink. Base Amphetamine is commonly available, which is a much stronger form of the drug. It was used in WW2 and in Vietnam to keep soldiers alert and suppress hunger. Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) is a form of Speed that looks like off-white crystals and is often smoked. Amphetamines are regularly taken along with Ecstacy. Speed is the most impure illegal drug in the UK – the purity of street powders is less than 10%.

Effects

• People feel more awake and confident
• It intensifies emotions and may increase libido
• The pupils widen and breathing and heart rates speed up
• Some people can feel anxious, irritable, confused and paranoid 

Risks

• Users can become tense, anxious, tired and depressed
• Speed suppresses the appetite, but does not satisfy the body’s need for nourishment
• Repeated high doses may cause panic attacks and hallucinations as well as insomnia, delirium and increased blood pressure
• Long term use can put a strain on the heart and cause mental illness. It can be dangerous for someone with any kind of heart condition or a history of psychiatric disorder to use Amphetamine
• Injecting Amphetamine is particularly dangerous because the strength and purity of street powder is unknown
• Sharing needles puts users at risk of Hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS
• Use may deplete the body’s natural resources leading to low energy levels
• Long term users may become dependent on the buzz Speed gives them. Tolerance can develop which means the user needs more to get the same effect.
• In cases of overdose stroke, lung, kidney gastrointestinal damage can develop while coma and death can occur
• Smoking ‘Crystal meth’ (sometimes known as ‘ice’) produces a very intense rush that can last between 4 and 12 hours 

Class

Class B