Amphetamines

What are Amphetamines?

Amphetamines are a group of drugs commonly known as ‘speed’. They are also called ‘Go-ee’, ‘Uppers’, ‘Ice’, ‘Fast’, ‘Zoom’, and ‘Kickstart’. Speed is an illegal habit forming drug. It is made from a mixture of dangerous chemicals. It is often made in illegal backyard labs and mixed with other dangerous substances.

Speed comes in many forms

Tablet
Capsule
Red Liquid
Crystal Form
White, yellow or brown powder

How does speed affect people?

All drugs affect the body. The effects of speed are unpredictable and will vary from person to person. A given amount might have a small effect on one person but a much greater effect on another person.

Mixing speed with other drugs can lead to an overdose.

Low doses of speed can cause:	sleeplessness high blood pressure dilated pupils shakes restlessness sweating
Higher doses can cause problems like:	irregular heartbeat dizziness and fainting confusion paranoia fever stomach cramps loss of coordination fits blurred vision headache
Regular use	can cause ones body to become more used to the drug. There may be a craving for more frequent and larger amounts. Damage from regular use can include: heart attack hostility malnutrition addiction hallucinations (thinking you see or hear things) overdose, which can lead to death.

Using Speed

If speed is taken for a long time a person can develop a tolerance to it. This means more speed is needed to get the same effect This can be very dangerous and have bad side effects. If a person feels they cannot do without speed, then they may be dependent and find it very hard to stop using it.

Suddenly stopping

If a person suddenly stops using speed after taking it for a long time, they will have withdrawal symptoms. This is because their body needs time to get used to not having the drug.
They may feel: tired
                       anxious
                       irritable
                      depressed
They may also have a long but restless sleep, often with nightmares. If a person wants to stop taking speed they should talk to a doctor or contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service for more information.

What are the other effects of speed?

Hepatitis and HIV/Aids

Injecting speed, and sharing used needles or syringes, puts users at risk of getting Hepatitis or the HIV/AIDS virus. Users are encouraged to get clean needles from pharmacies or needle exchanges. Contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service for more information.

Pregnancy

Speed can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature labour and birth complications. The effects on the unborn child are not entirely known, so it is safest not to use speed during pregnancy.

What about the Family or Workplace?

Speed use may lead to problems at home and work. Using speed everyday can cause arguments. These problems can be made much worse because some users become irritable, hostile or violent.

Driving

It is illegal to drive a vehicle while under the influence of a drug. It is not safe to drive a car when using speed. Even if one feels more confident, speed affects the ability to judge the distance and speed of other vehicles.

Speed is Illegal!

Possessing, using, making or selling speed is illegal and carries heavy fines and/or prison sentences.