Amphetamines: Performance Enhancer or Addictive Stimulant - Doctor Explains

Not all drugs are created equal. As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A bit exaggerated maybe, but this is the precarious balance surrounding Amphetamines. Most of you will know Amphetamine as a perfectly legal drug prescribed for several medical indication.
To children, no less, to help them with ADHD. Or it can be used to treat obesity or narcolepsy.
But, as you probably know, it has a much darker side. Several types of Amphetamines are illegal, highly addictive and dangerous.

In todays videos, we will cover the differences between the types of amphetamines, we will cover their effects, potential long term risks and much, much, more.

This video is part of a videoseries on the Dangers of Illicit Drugs. Find the playlists here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaG3Bo3L0gX5LqgWoZVqRxEDa1hYcEYzl

The origin of Amphetamines:
It all starts about 5000 years ago in China. There grew a plant called Ephedra, which contained the amphetamine-like stimulant ephedrine. Which was at that time already used by the local population for its effects.
If we fast forward to about 1885, ephedrine was for the first time isolated form the plant. This was done in Japan, after it was studied for its medicinal properties. In the years to come, scientist were also able to synthesize Amphetamine, and from 1933 onwards it was sold as a drug to potentially treat a wide variety of medical conditions: narcolepsy, obesity, low blood pressure, chronic pain and ADHD in children.
Interestingly, up until, the 1960-70 it’s addictive properties were mostly unknown. But, from that point onwards, governments started to place strict controls on the sale of amphetamines.

What actually are Amphetamines?
There are 4 common types of amphetamines;
- Amphetamine: called speed, uppers, goey, louee or whiz.
- Dextroamphetamine (ADHD medicine used illegally): dexies, kiddie-speed, pep pills, uppers; black beauty (when combined with amphetamine).
- Methamphetamine (crystal solid form): crystal, meth, base, d-meth, fast, glass, ice, speed, whiz, pure, wax.
- Methamphetamine (liquid form): leopard's blood, liquid red, ox blood, red speed.

These types of amphetamines, come as pills, capsules, powder, paste, crystal and liquid, and therefore can be used by swallowing, dabbing onto the gums, smoking, snorting and injecting.

How does it work?
They work by increasing the dopamine and noradrenaline levels in multiple pathways of your central nervous system. Both are neuromodulatory molecule, which effect the reward centrum in your brain, your thinking, mood and movement.

The short term effects:
- Burst of energy (making you talkative, restless and excited), feelings of euphoria, feelings as if your thinking is extremely clear, accelerated heart rate and breathing rate, high blood pressure, dry mouth, jaw clenching, sweating, dilated (lage) pupils), loss of appetite, increased libido and nose bleeds (if you snort it).

Risks of using Amphetamines:
- A binge crash might occur. This can take a few days. You might experience; extreme exhaustion, requiring a lot of sleep, headaches, muscles twitches, irritability, mood swings, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, confusion and there is a risk of using other drugs to cope with the “crash”
- Furthermore, there is always the risk of an overdose. It might occur when taking a too strong batch, using a large amount or mixing it with other drugs or alcohol.

Long term risks:
Psychosis, extreme weight loss, malnutrition, dental problems, regular infections, mood swings, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, drug dependence, aggression, heart and kidney problems and financial, work, study, legal and relationship problems.
In a nutshell, as with any serious addiction, it could impact and destroy someone's whole life.

- Disclaimer: this video and the comments are meant purely informational! This is not medical advice! If you are looking for medical advice always contact your own doctor. -

Literature:
1: Addiction Rehab Toronto. (2022). Are the Differences Between Legal and Illegal Amphetamines?
2: Better Health Channel. (2022). Amphetamines.
3: A. Kowalchuk. BC. Reed. (2016). Substance use disorders. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 50.
4: FK. Berger. CA. La Jolla. etall. (2022). Substance use - amphetamines. Medline Plus.
5: Cleveland Clinic Medical Professional. (2022). Amphetamines. Cleveland Clinic.

* The images in this video are used for educational purposes only. Most of the images and video material in this video come from https://www.canva.com/.

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