By Paige Bierma

Amphetamines are manufactured central nervous system (CNS) stimulants -- drugs that increase your heart rate and give you more energy and stamina. Over the years, doctors have used them to treat a laundry list of ailments, including hiccups, seasickness, schizophrenia, and caffeine dependence, and during World War II they were distributed to servicemen to keep them alert for combat. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter nasal decongestants. Today they are most often used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Common amphetamine preparations for these disorders include methylphenidate (Ritalin), and detroamphetamine compounds (Dexedrine and Adderall).

Others were developed specifically for the illegal drug market and have been sold on the street, usually as pills, under names like "black beauties," "white crosses," and speed. Along with cocaine and crack cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamine are the most widely used illegal stimulants. Recent reports also highlight a rising trend of reselling ADHD drugs for illicit use.

In fact, a 2005 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found an alarming rise in teen substance abuse: Adolescent abuse more than tripled over the past 10 years, and prescription drug abuse was prevalent with nearly 10 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds.

Amphetamines increase your heart rate and blood pressure, which can result in heart attack or stroke. Speed bought on the street carries an added risk common to all black-market drugs -- you never know quite what you're getting. Preparations may vary wildly in concentration, or be laced with other harmful drugs, such as PCP or Ecstasy. However, the danger is not confined to illicit amphetamines -- over-the-counter diet pills containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA) have also been linked to stroke in otherwise healthy people, and the Food and Drug Administration has recently ordered them withdrawn from the market. And ephedrine, a CNS stimulant found in many diet pills, has been linked to a variety of adverse effects, including heart attacks and strokes. Ephedrine is a chemical derivative of ephedra -- also known by its Chinese name, ma huang. In 2004, the FDA banned dietary supplements containing ma huang, although ephedrine diet pills are still widely available on the internet.

Methamphetamine is very similar to amphetamine but has an even stronger effect on the central nervous system. It is typically produced in clandestine laboratories from over-the-counter ingredients and sold as "speed," "meth," and "crank" in its powder form. Methamphetamine is also sold in a smokable (and injectable) form of clear chunky crystals called "ice," "crystal," or "glass." According to the 2006 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1.4 million Americans tried methamphetamine in the past year. Young adults aged 18 to 25 were most likely to use methamphetamines. One reason for its popularity may be its emergence as a drug of choice on the dance club scene. Many college students -- perhaps unaware of the risks -- have also taken speed to stay awake writing papers and preparing for exams.

People doing speed typically have dilated pupils and may seem agitated, talk excitedly or non-stop, feel little or no hunger, stay awake for hours or days, over-exert themselves in physical activity, and take risks due to over confidence. Regular users often experience visible weight loss. The overall effects can last anywhere from six to 24 hours, although the more extreme effects are much shorter. People who smoke or inject methamphetamine experience an intense "rush" immediately afterwards which lasts only a few minutes and is followed by a state of agitation. Snorting speed or taking it in a pill produces euphoria -- described as a "high," but not a rush.

Amphetamines and methamphetamines cause the brain to release large amounts of dopamine, which is what creates the euphoria users describe. This dynamic is also responsible for the "crash" and depression users feel when the effect of the drug wears off, however. Wanting to regain that energy and "high" -- and needing increasing amounts to attain it -- are what make these drugs so addictive.

Amphetamine and methamphetamine abuse can cause serious cardiovascular problems, visual hallucinations, tremors, loss of coordination, and, in extreme cases, death from stroke or heart failure, according to the NIDA.

Furthermore, a recent study at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center found that 26 former methamphetamine users showed losses of neurons and other brain chemical abnormalities even after abstaining for an average of four months. The report concluded that these glitches lend evidence for long-term cognitive problems, and the death of neurons that release dopamine may contribute to ongoing depression in chronic users who have kicked the habit.

Chronic intravenous abuse can cause permanent blood vessel damage, and needle sharers are at a greater risk for contracting infectious diseases such as AIDS. Paranoia, anxiety, and sudden bursts of aggression may also occur in those addicted to injected methamphetamine (perhaps because it is often mixed with PCP).

According to the NIDA, these psychological symptoms can lead to homicidal or suicidal thoughts, and anecdotal evidence points to methamphetamine abusers showing more violent tendencies than cocaine abusers. A University of Washington study of 146 deaths involving methamphetamine use found that 27 percent were a result of homicidal violence, and 15 percent were suicides.

Stimulant withdrawal is typically less traumatic and dangerous than withdrawal from narcotics or depressants such as barbiturates. People often eat voraciously after being off the drugs for a few days, and a may gain a significant amount of weight. Also, people using these stimulants feel extremely tired and may sleep an inordinate amount for several days. Dispiritedness and depression often accompany withdrawal, sometimes along with suicidal thoughts.

To date, behavioral treatment has proven the most effective. Designed to erase the addictive mentality of the user and improve ability to cope with various sources of stress, behavioral intervention in the form of individual or group counseling can lead to long-term recovery. As with other forms of substance abuse, group therapy has been shown to be more effective than individual therapy.

As with cocaine, researchers have produced no persuasive drug treatments for addiction. However, antidepressants that increase dopamine levels (such as Wellbutrin and Zyban) have shown some success in bucking the depression that may accompany recent abstinence -- though the FDA issued a warning in 2007 stressing that antidepressant medication may increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children, teens, and young adults.

-- Paige Bierma is a health and medical writer who has contributed to Hippocrates, Safety + Health magazine, and Vibe.

Further Resources

Narcotics Anonymous

World Service Office

P.O. Box 9999

Van Nuys, CA 91409

818/773-9999

Fax: 818/700-0700

http://www.wsoinc.com/ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment:

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/ufds/welcome.htm

800/662-HELP

References

First published February 2, 2001
Last updated February 14, 2008
Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive

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