Amphetamines

Amphetamines are rather popular these days and can be obtained in pill or powder form. A common preparation is methamphetamine, often referred to as crank or sometimes crystal. The convenient aspect of methamphetamines is that they can be smoked, injected, snorted, and eaten on occasion.

Amphetamines were first synthesized in 1887 in an effort to synthesize ephedra, which was used for the treatment of asthma. Methamphetamine was discovered in Japan in 1919. In the 1930's the stimulant properties were discovered (yes, it took that long). Methamphetamine and dextroamphetamine were marketed as inhalers (Methedrine and Benzadrine, respectively) to dilate bronchioles in asthmatics.

In terms of their stimulant properties, amphetamines first came into use during World War II by all forces. Amphetamines were very popular during the 1960's when many college and graduate students legally used them to study for exams. Interestingly, when people say that amphetamines make them think better, that is because they do. It is not a diagnostic aspect of ADHD, it is part of being human. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was passed and it was more difficult to purchase amphetamines. This gave rise to the illicit production of amphetamines.

Different sorts of amphetamines

For people who do not use, the assortment of amphetamines can indeed be baffling and not all users make fine distinctions amongst the amphetamine nuances. For the most part, the effects will last around four to six hours.

SPEED - usually in tablet form (this was most popular in the 1960's)

CRANK - often refers to methamphetamine sulfate

CRYSTAL - often refers to methamphetamine hydrochloride

ICE - dextromethamphetamine. it was notable because it is smokable and has a longer half-life than many other amphetamines, lasting at least eight hours. for unknown reasons, ice is not terribly popular.

ice

SNOT - skimmed from heated methamphetamine. it's a reddish-brown gel of sorts that can be smoked.

METH - refers to methamphetamine.

Why has methamphetamine become so popular? There's no straightforward answer, but price is surely a consideration. Crank is cheap, and it got cheaper after the 'just say no' campaigns of the 1980's drove up the price of many other less-addictive illegal substances.

Crank can be made relatively easily at home, usually from ephedrine, which is extracted from the ephedra bush. Since ephedrine is illegal in the U.S., sometimes pseudoephedrine is used. Most methamphetamines in the US are synthesized in Southern California.

Getting it in the body

There are a variety of ways to do methamphetamine. Injecting and snorting are pretty popular, but smoking is also done. Snorting meth irritates the nasal mucosa and injecting causes pain as well. As with many drugs, oral routes are not popular because of the wait for the initial high. Smoking crank is very popular as the absorption rate is very rapid. Regardless of the route of administration, amphetamines last about 4-6 hours.

Neurochemistry

★The big bang for the buck with amphetamines is that they increase catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in three ways compared to cocaine's two. Amphetamines stimulate catecholamine release and block reuptake. Long term use of amphetamine leads to depression of norepinephrine and dopamine levels, which in turn can be associated with increased cravings. Norepinephrine levels can be suppressed after 3-6 months of use.

There can be extreme tolerance of amphetamine and some chronic users can go through 5 grams in 24 hours. It can take a week for normal brain function to return after an amphetamine binge.

★Ice is very interesting as it is predominantly the dextro isomer of methamphetamine and is 2-4 times more potent than the levo isomer with respect to stimulating the brain. If pseudoephedrine is used to create methamphetamine, the result is predominantly the dextro isomer. The dextro isomer is much less toxic to the cardiovascular system.

Physical effects

The physical effects of amphetamines include:

Emotional effects

Intially, amphetamines produce a sense of euphoria that resembles that of cocaine. However, with prolonged use, norepinephrine and dopamine become unbalanced and amphetamines give rise to anxiety, irritability, confusion, and poor judgment. Like cocaine, amphetamines also mimic sexual gratification and are used often used by people who have mutliple sexual partners or prefer prolonged activity. However, tolerance develops rapidly, so the honeymoon is short.

Excessive use of amphetamines give rise to psychosis and with really prolonged use can cause prolonged psychosis, presumably from excessive dopaminergic activity.