Amphetamine (
alpha-methyl-
phenethylamine), also known as
speed or
crank, is a
stimulant, and
club drug, used to
diminish the appetite, control weight, and treat disorders including
narcolepsy and
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is also used recreationally and for performance enhancement (these uses are illegal in some countries).
Illicit production and use of amphetamines occurs on a widespread basis in several European nations, typically in the form of amphetamine sulfate synthesized from
phenylpropanolamine. [
citation needed] In addition, because of the widespread use of amphetamines as a treatment for
narcolepsy and
ADD/ADHD, prescription amphetamines are subject to diversion and are one of the most frequently- abused drugs in high schools and colleges. [
citation needed]
Effects of use
Amphetamines release stores of
norepinephrine and
dopamine from nerve endings by converting the respective molecular transporters into open channels. Amphetamine also releases stores of
serotonin from
synaptic vesicles. Like
methylphenidate (
Ritalin), amphetamines also prevent the
monoamine transporters for
dopamine and
norepinephrine from recycling them (called
reuptake inhibition), which leads to increased amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in
synaptic clefts.
These combined effects rapidly increase the concentrations of the respective
neurotransmitters in the
synaptic cleft, which promotes nerve impulse transmission in neurons that have those receptors.
[edit] Physical effects
- Short-term physiological effects vary greatly, depending on dosage used and the method in which the drug is taken. These effects could include decreased appetite, increased stamina and physical energy, increased sexual drive/response, involuntary bodily movements, hyperhidrosis, hyperactivity, jitteriness, nausea, itchy, blotchy or greasy skin, tachycardia, irregular heart rate, hypertension, and headaches. Fatigue can often follow the dose's period of effectiveness. Overdose can be treated with chlorpromazine. [1]
- Long-term abuse or overdose effects can include tremor, restlessness, changed sleep patterns, anxiety and increase in pre-existing anxiety, poor skin condition, hyperreflexia, tachypnea, gastrointestinal narrowing, and weakened immune system. Fatigue and depression can follow the excitement stage. Erectile dysfunction, heart problems, stroke, and liver, kidney and lung damage can result from prolonged use. When insufflated, amphetamine can lead to a deterioration of the lining of the nostrils.
[edit] Psychological effects
- Short-term psychological effects can include alertness, euphoria, increased concentration, rapid talking, increased confidence, increased social responsiveness, nystagmus (eye wiggles), hallucinations, and loss of REM sleep the night after use.
- Long-term psychological effects can include insomnia, mental states resembling schizophrenia, aggressiveness (not associated with schizophrenia), addiction or dependence with accompanying withdrawal symptoms, irritability, confusion, and panic. Chronic and/or extensively-continuous use can lead to amphetamine psychosis, which causes delusions and paranoia, but this is uncommon when taken as prescribed. Amphetamine is highly-psychologically addictive, and, with chronic use, tolerance develops very quickly. Withdrawal is, although not physiologically threatening, an unpleasant experience (including paranoia, depression, difficult breathing, dysphoria, gastric fluctuations and/or pain, and lethargia). This commonly leads chronic users to re-dose amphetamine frequently, explaining tolerance and increasing the possibility of addiction.
[edit] Addiction
Tolerance is developed rapidly in amphetamine abuse, therefore increasing the amount of the drug that is needed to satisfy the addiction. [
citation needed] Many abusers will repeat the amphetamine cycle by taking more of the drug during the
withdrawal. This leads to a very dangerous cycle and may involve the use of other drugs to get over the withdrawal process. Chronic abusers of amphetamines typically snort or resort to
drug injection to experience the full effect of the drug in a faster and more intense way, with the added risks of bacterial and viral transmission, vein damage and higher risk of overdose.
[edit] Legal issues
- In the United Kingdom, amphetamines are regarded as Class B drugs. The maximum penalty for unauthorised possession is three months' imprisonment and a £2,500 fine.
- In the United States, amphetamine and methamphetamine are Schedule II controlled drugs, classified as a CNS (Central Nervous System) Stimulant. A Schedule II drug is classified as one that: has a high potential for abuse, has a currently-accepted medical use and is used under severe restrictions, and has a high possibility of severe psychological and physiological dependence.
Internationally, amphetamine is a Schedule II drug under the
Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
[2]