Amphetamines

Amphetamines belong to a group of drugs called “psycho-stimulants”. Amphetamines stimulate the central nervous system and speed up the messages going to and from the brain to the body.

Most amphetamines are produced in backyard laboratories and sold illegally. People who buy amphetamines illegally are often buying these drugs mixed with other substances that have unpleasant and harmful effects. What do they look like?

Amphetamines are a whole family of related drugs - each with its own recipe - and are taken in different ways. They can be in the form of powder, tablets, capsules, crystals or red liquid.

Amphetamines can come as a white through to a brown powder, sometimes even orange and dark purple. They have a strong smell and bitter taste.
Amphetamine capsules vary considerably in color and are sometimes sold in commercial brand shells. They are packaged in "foils" (aluminium foil), plastic bags or small balloons when sold on the street.

Amphetamine tablets vary in color, and can be a cocktail of drugs, binding agents, caffeine and sugar.

Crystal-methamphetamine or "Ice” generally comes in large "sheet-like" crystals, or as a crystalline powder.

The reddish-brown liquid is sold in capsules.

MDMA, or "ecstasy” as it is more commonly known, is another illicit drug related to amphetamines. It is usually available in small tablets.

How are they taken?

Amphetamines are most commonly swallowed, injected or smoked. They are also "snorted", or sniffed, through the nose. Some people insert them anally ("shafting").

Street names

Common names for amphetamines are "speed", "up", "fast", "louee", "goey", "whiz", "pep pills", "uppers". Crystal methamphetamine is also known as "ice", "shabu", "crystal meth", or "glass". Effects of amphetamines

The effects of any drug (including amphetamines) vary from person to person, depending on the individual’s size, weight and health, how much and how the drug is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken. It also depends on the environment in which the drug is used; for example, whether the person is alone, with others or at a party.

Immediate effects

Soon after taking amphetamines, the following effects may be experienced:

• Speeding up of bodily functions
  Amphetamines speed up the body’s activity. Heart rate, breathing and blood pressure increase. A dry mouth, increased sweating, enlargement of the eye’s pupils and headaches may occur.
• More energy and alertness
  Users may feel energetic and full of confidence, with a heightened sense of well being. Other effects include feeling wide awake and alert, becoming talkative, restless and excited, and having difficulty sleeping. Panic attacks may also be experienced.
• Reduced appetite
• Irritability

Some users become anxious, irritable, hostile and aggressive. Sometimes people feel a sense of power and superiority over others.

Impure amphetamines

Most amphetamines sold illegally contain a mixture of pure amphetamines and other substances such as sugar, glucose, bicarbonate of soda and ephedrine. These additives can be highly poisonous. They can cause collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to the heart, lungs, liver and brain. And because the person does’t know whether they are using 5 per cent or 50 per cent pure amphetamines, it is easy to overdose by accident.

In greater quantities

Very high quantities of amphetamines can cause paleness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, irregular heartbeat, stomach cramps, sweating, restlessness, irregular breathing and loss of coordination. Some users have collapsed after taking amphetamines. High quantities can also create an "amphetamine psychosis", characterized by paranoid delusions, hallucinations and aggressive or violent behavior.

Effects of overdosing

Due to the unknown strength and mix of street amphetamines, some users have overdosed and experienced strokes, heart failure, seizures and high body temperature. Some have died as a result.

Injecting runs a greater risk of overdosing due to large amounts of the drug entering the blood stream and quickly traveling to the brain.

Coming down

As the effects of amphetamines begin to wear off, a person may experience a range of symptoms including uncontrolled violence, tension, radical mood swings, depression and total exhaustion.

Long-term effects

Regular use of amphetamines may result in chronic sleeping problems, anxiety and tension, high blood pressure and a rapid and irregular heartbeat. In order to combat these drug-related effects, people who use amphetamines may also use alcohol, benzodiazepines, other sedatives/hypnotic, cannabis and opiates.

 Other possible long-term effects include:

• Malnutrition: 
  Amphetamines reduce appetite, resulting in people being less likely to eat properly.
• Psychosis:
  Frequent heavy use can cause "amphetamine psychosis". Symptoms may include paranoia as well as delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behavior. These symptoms usually disappear a few days after the person stops using amphetamines.
• Reduced resistance to infections: 
  Regular amphetamine users often don’t eat or sleep properly and are generally run down, so their resistance to infections is reduced.
• Violence:
  People who use amphetamines regularly or in high quantities may suddenly become violent for no apparent reason.
• Brain damage:
  There is some evidence that amphetamine use may damage brain cells. This damage can result in reduced memory function and possibly other impairments in thinking.

Tolerance and dependence

People who are physically dependent on amphetamines usually develop tolerance to the drug, making it necessary to take more and more to get the same effect. The quantity taken can reach a stage at which no further increase in the amount taken will produce the desired effect.

Dependence on amphetamines can be psychological or physical, or both. People who are psychologically dependent on amphetamines find that using them becomes far more important than other activities in their life. They crave the drug and will find it very difficult to stop using it. People who are physically dependent on amphetamines find that their body has become used to functioning with the amphetamines present.

Withdrawal

If a person who is dependent on amphetamines suddenly stops taking it, they will experience withdrawal symptoms, because their body has to readjust to functioning without the drug.

Amphetamine withdrawal symptoms may include hunger, extreme fatigue, anxiety, irritability and depression. People may also have a long but restless sleep, often interrupted by nightmares.

Some experience severe distress or feelings of panic.

Amphetamines, hepatitis and HIV

Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment greatly increases the risk of contracting blood borne viruses such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the virus that causes AIDS

What to do in a crisis

• If someone overdoses or has an adverse reaction while using amphetamines it is very important that they receive professional help as soon as possible. A quick response can save their life.
• Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Don’t delay, because you think you or your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are not obliged to involve the police.
• Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. Find out if anyone at the scene knows mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Ensure that the person has adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.
• If the person is unconscious, don’t leave them on their back - they could choke. Turn them on their side and put them in the recovery position. Gently tilt their head back so their tongue does not block the airway.
• If breathing has stopped, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If there is no pulse, apply CPR.
• Provide the ambulance officers with as much information as you can - what drugs were taken, how much was taken, how long ago and any pre-existing medical conditions.

• For more information on the risks of amphetamine-related harm, contact the alcohol and drug information service in your state or territory.