Drugs Information, what you really should know about, drugs facts on and facts about Amphetamine and Methamphetamine

A Guide for worried parents, teenagers who are using drugs or thinking about using drugs and anyone who wants to know more about the subject.

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amphetamines

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine(speed) but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. Methamphetamine is used in pill form, or in powdered form by snorting or injecting. Crystallized methamphetamine known as "ice," "crystal," or "glass," is a smokable and more powerful form of the drug.

speed

Common street names:
billy whizz, speed, meth, sulphate, fast, uppers, powder, crank

How are they taken:
sniffed, snorted up nose, injected, tablet form, swallowed, mixed with a drink, power put in cigarette paper and swallowed.

Effects
Makes you feel more alert / confident or aggressive. increases your heart rate and enlarges pupils, lessens desire to eat and sleep, can make you feel nervous and anxious. Will lead to increased energy and make you very talkative and effects are increased by alcohol. Injecting carries risk of Hiv, viral Hepatitis and other infections transmitted from sharing needles and syringes. Even at low doses, speed can cause mood swings , temper tantrums, irritability and restlessness.

 ice

Risks:
What goes up must come down! speed gives you extra energy in the short term, but there is a payback the next day, known as a downer, similar to a very bad hangover. After using, people often feel tired, depressed and hungry and can become physically run down because of lack of sleep and food. Using can make people feel very anxious, messes up sleep patterns, can cause paranoia and violent mood changes. Long term users can suffer from severe depression and other mental disorders, can produce aggressive behaviour, heart failure and damage blood vessels. Resistance to disease is lowered leading to uncomfortable itching. Hiv and Aids, and Hepatitis are risks of sharing needles. Amphetamines are usually class b drugs but if injected, can become a class a drug. Possessing, supplying or selling is illegal and carries penalties of prison or fines unless you have them on prescription.

Short-term & Long-term effects:
increased heart rate and blood pressure increased wakefulness;insomnia increased physical activity decreased appetite
extreme anorexia
hyperthermia, convulsions, and cardiovascular problems, which can lead to death
euphoria
irratability, confusion
anxiety, paranoia, or violent behavior
can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes respiratory problems

Methamphetamine is an increasingly popular at raves (all night dance parties), and as part of a number of drugs used by college-aged students. Marijuana and alcohol are commonly listed as additional drugs of abuse among methamphetamine treatment admissions. Most of the methamphetamine-related deaths (92%) reported in 1994 involved methamphetamine in combination with at least one other drug, most often alcohol (30%), heroin (23%), or cocaine (21%). Researchers continue to study the long-term effects of methamphetamine use.

For information about other drugs, return to Drug Information Page.