AMPHETAMINES IN BRIEF

 This information is provided courtesy of Erowid.



"Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death."
Hunter S. Thompson

Overview


Levoamphetamine (Benzedrine), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and methamphetamine (Methedrine) are collectively referred to as amphetamines.

Amphetamines are potent psychomotor stimulants. Their use causes a release of the excitatory neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) from storage vesicles in the CNS. Amphetamines may be sniffed, swallowed, snorted or injected. They induce exhilarating feelings of power, strength, energy, self-assertion, focus and enhanced motivation. The need to sleep or eat is diminished. The release of dopamine typically induces a sense of aroused euphoria which may last several hours: unlike cocaine, amphetamine is not readily broken down by the body. Feelings are intensified. The user may feel he can take on the world.

The euphoria doesn't last. There follows an intense mental depression and fatigue. Amphetamine depletes the neuronal stores of dopamine in the mesolimbic pleasure centers of the brain.

Amphetamine is structurally related to ephedrine, a natural stimulant found in plants of dilates the bronchial small sacs of the lungs, a great blessing. Amphetamine is structurally related to ephedrine, a natural stimulant found in plants of the genus Ephedra. It is also structurally related to adrenaline, the body's "fight or flight" hormone.

History


Amphetamine was first synthesized by Edeleano in Germany in 1887, but it only entered clinical medicine in the late 1920s when its psychostimulant effect was recognized. The US medical and pharmaceutical establishment was worried that supplies of ephedra in faraway China would be exhausted. Amphetamine promised a cheap and synthetic substitute. Like ephedrine, amphetamine dilates the bronchial small sacs of the lungs, a great blessing for sufferers from breathing disorders. So in 1932, Smith, Kline and French introduced the famous Benzedrine Inhaler.

Amphetamine sulphate was aggressively marketed for asthmatics, hay-fever sufferers and anyone with a cold. Amphetamine was soon available in pill form too. "Pep pills" were sold over the counter for all manner of ailments. Doctors prescribed amphetamine for depression, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, travel-sickness, night-blindness, and hyperactive disorders of children, obesity, narcolepsy, impotence, and apathy in old age.

Street Doses


An average wrap of speed contains less than 10% amphetamines, (often as low as 2%) and over 90% of adulterants.

Methamphetamine




Overview


Methamphetamine (also known as speed, meth, crystal, crank, glass, uppers, yaba and sometimes confusingly called ice) is a chemical widely known for its stimulant properties on the human body. It is a synthetic stimulant commonly used as a recreational drug. It is frequently confused with other drugs that share similar symptoms, including amphetamine, 4-methyl-aminorex, ephedrine, caffeine, and other chemicals, both legal and illegal. It is legally prescribed as a treatment for ADD under the brand name Desoxyn, for both children and adults. On the street, it is generally found as an odorless, white or off-white, bitter-tasting powder, though it is also found in pills, capsules and larger crystals.

Administration


Methamphetamine can be taken orally, snorted, smoked or injected, in approximately increasing order of immediacy of onset.

Onset and Duration


Onset can be immediate (in the case of injection), or can take as long as 30-40 minutes if ingested orally. Duration is subjective, but is probably on the order of 4 - 8 hours. Delayed absorption (for example, due to oral ingestion) can prolong the effects relative to time of administration. Of course, larger doses last longer due to the fact that it is removed from the blood at a finite rate. In contrast to base cocaine, smoking meth will extend its effects for up to 24 hrs per ingestion.

Plasma Life


The length of time that methamphetamine will stay in the plasma (blood) is between 4 to 6 hours. It can be detected in the urine one hour after use and up to 48 hours after use.

Dosage


A toxic reaction (or overdose) can occur at relatively low levels, 50 milligrams of pure drug for a non-tolerant user. Different peoples' metabolisms work at different rates, and drug strengths vary, so there is no way of stating a "safe" or "unsafe" level of use.

Effects


These include euphoria, hyper excitability, extreme nervousness, accelerated heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, restlessness, insomnia, tooth grinding, incessant talking, and other effects. Methamphetamine and other CNS stimulants have strong bronchodilation effects. Vasoconstriction (tightening of blood vessels) and pupil dilation are also common as are elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and other general symptoms of increased sympathetic nervous activity. The physical effects are almost assuredly due to interactions between the amphetamine structure and human physiology, probably due to the similarity to adrenaline (epinephrine). Mental capacity is not diminished directly by the drug. In fact, some studies have shown slight increases in mental capacity on simple tasks. It has been prescribed for attention deficit disorder, among other things. Methamphetamine is also believed to be neurotoxic. Methamphetamine is an anorexant, meaning it causes most people to lose interest in food. This is considered a benefit for many light users, but in regular or heavy users can lead to malnutrition. Chronic use can lead to what is called 'Amphetamine Psychosis', resulting in paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, self-absorption, irritability, aggressive and erratic behavior, and picking at the skin. This can be magnified by lack of sleep which often accompanies heavy use of meth.

Addiction Potential


Methamphetamine causes significant tolerance, as well as psychological dependence. This combination can be particularly bad because the user is likely to have strong cravings for more Meth, while at the same time being unable to reach a satisfactory high. Withdrawal from high doses can produce severe depression.

The Law


Methamphetamine is Schedule II in the United States, meaning that it is illegal to buy, sell, or possess without a prescription. It is legally controlled in most countries, although it has medical uses, so it is also available by prescription in many places.

Chemistry




Powder methamphetamine is the hydrochloride salt form which is strongly hydrophilic (absorbs water from the air quickly). The HCl salt can be smoked as is. Crystal meth "Crystal Meth" or "Ice" refer to methamphetamine grown into crystals. Though many people believe that Crystal Meth is the freebase form of methamphetamine HCl, this is not true. Growing the HCI salt it into crystals makes it easier to smoke. Meth in visible crystals (rather than powder) is likely to be relatively pure as it is difficult to grow crystals from impure material. Methamphetamine freebase is an oil and is uncommon on the street. 'Ice' is recrystalised methamphetamine hydrochloride, a potent stimulant. Ice will dissolve in water and break down to smaller particles. It generally takes the form of clear crystallized chunks. Ice induces a profound sense of euphoria in the user by blocking the reuptake, and stimulating the release, of dopamine and noradrenaline in the central nervous system.

Problems from Using Amphetamines


Amphetamine use produces a wide range of short term and long term problems that may have serious consequences.

Short-term problems from using amphetamines:

  • Disturbed sleep patterns
  • Loss of interest in friends, sex, or food
  • Itching, welts on skin
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Excessive excitation, hyperactivity
  • Shortness of breath
  • Moodiness & irritability
  • Anxiousness & nervousness
  • Aggressiveness
  • Involuntary body movements
  • Panic, suspiciousness & paranoia
  • Aggressive and violent behavior
  • Severe depression, suicidal tendencies

Potential problems from long-term use of amphetamines:

  • Fatal kidney and lung disorders
  • Brain damage
  • Malnutrition & anorexia
  • Permanent psychological problems
  • Lowered resistance to illnesses
  • Liver damage
  • Stroke

Withdrawal symptoms from long term use of amphetamines:

  • Craving
  • Exhaustion
  • Depression
  • Mental confusion
  • Restlessness and insomnia
  • Deep or disturbed sleep lasting up to 48 hours
  • Extreme hunger
  • Psychotic reaction
  • Anxiety reactions

Risks of injecting Amphetamines

  • The dose reaches the brain almost immediately, increasing the possibility of an overdose.
  • Impurities are introduced directly into the bloodstream that may cause septicemia and other infections.
  • Repeated injections damage the veins, leading to thrombosis and abscesses.
  • Sharing syringes can cause hepatitis and HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS.

Contraindications

  • Do not take amphetamines if you are currently taking an MAO.
MAOs are most commonly found in the prescription anti-depressants Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Eldepryl (l-deprenyl), and Aurorex or Manerix (moclobemide). Ayahuasca also contains MAOIs (harmine and harmaline). MAOIs and Methamphetamin are a potentially dangerous combination. Check with your doctor if you are not sure whether your prescription medication is an MAO.
  • Do not take amphetamines if you have any kind of heart disease (i.e. arteriosclerosis, hypertension) as Amphetamine use can be hard on the heart.
  • Do not take amphetamines if you are pregnant.
Research shows that amphetamines used during pregnancy may decrease the birth weight of the baby as well as increasing the likelihood of cardiac abnormalities (heart problems) and possibly other birth defects.
  • Do not take amphetamines if you are breast-feeding. Amphetamines are believed to be transferred through breast milk.


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