Amphetamine users can reach a plateau where no other pleasure is possible
Though amphetamines includes many prescription drugs such as Dexedrine, Desoxyn, and Ritalin often prescribed for obesity, narcolepsy and ADD, this article is primarily about a stronger form of amphetamines, known as methamphetamines, or meth, speed, crystal, crank and ice on the street.
This illegal form of amphetamines is classified as Schedule I drug, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse and little or no legitimate medical use.
The most popular forms include white crystalline powder, which is water and alcohol soluble.
Rocks are hacked into a powder for snorting
The powder form sometimes comes in rocks, chunks or crystals that are white or off-white. The prescription varieties are available in a variety of capsules and tablets of different colors. The routes of administration can include "snorting" the powder, injecting a solution into the bloodstream, or swallowing a capsule or tablet. The slightly modified form of methamphetamines known as "ice" can even be smoked.
Sometimes these drugs are mixed with other drugs to form a "cocktail", such as mixing methamphetamines with with heroin for a "speedball" (please note that mixing cocaine with heroin is also often referred to as a "speedball) or with barbiturates for a "goofball". Sometimes these drugs are even mixed with LSD or PCP.
All amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants used recreationally and as a performance enhancer. Amphetamine have been used by some college and high-school students as a study and test-taking aid. Since Amphetamines work by increasing energy levels, concentration, and motivation, they allow students to study for extended periods of time.
The Experience
After snorting, smoking or injecting methamphetamines, users can experience a rush of pleasure similar to an orgasm or adrenaline shot. There is increased alertness, energy, euphoria, excitement, creativity, concentrations, power and even self esteem. The user's sex drive often increases. The appetite is reduced. It is known to induce euphoria. However there is also the possibility of paranoia and hallucinations.
One user described her first methamphetamine experience like this; "The first time I used speed I was at a friends house smoking weed. He started smoking ice, and I start criticizing him for it. So he said you cant criticize until you have experienced it. He whipped out a line about 3/4 of an inch long and extremely thin. I snorted half of it and forced myself to snort the rest even though it burned more than straight pepper. Within 5 minutes I felt extremely excited, and talked my ass off. Always trying to get a point across. Jumping around doing push ups and exercises. I was on a empty stomach but it didn't bother me after that. Two hours later I was off my high and his girlfriend came home and he poured out another line that was even bigger. This gave me a little high but it wore off within an hour. For the rest of the night I had trouble sleeping with everyone around yelling and partying. But I stayed laying down for about 7 hours even though i got about 30 minutes of sleep. I went home to get ready for work and my eyes were extremely dilated. I still hadn't eaten. It was a amazing experience though."
The same user describes her last experience with methamphetamine like this; "The last time I did speed about 2 months after the first time, I bought a half gram, did a line and headed over to a guys house who was piercing girls all night. I snorted up all of that half gram to myself. The problem was that after the first line I didn't get much higher. I just keep stuffing ice up my nose all night even though I wasn't high, just getting pissed I couldn't get higher. My friend sat down with me and smoked a joint with me and told me to get off the shit. I agreed looking back at how I had lost about 20 pounds and all i could think about was speeding, my teeth didn't feel good even though I brushed 3 times a day, and how my diet was horrible. 24/7 my mind operated around speed, and I was killing myself. I started smoking weed like I used to and it made me reflect on how speed was bad. I felt so guilty for using speed. Hard drugs just make you chase the high like crazy. I thought the speed was just getting less potent but it was just me. I haven't done speed since then, just smoking allot of weed which I think is a positive thing were speed is negative. Still after only two months of using I think about speed. It nags at me, but I ain't going back to that Nightmare."
Many methmethamphetamine users soon experience, even chase long periods of being continuously under the influence, which is known as a run. Users describe these high-energy periods as euphoric, where they believe they are invincible and can accomplish anything and everything.
Unfortunately, after three to five days this euphoria is often replaced by agitation on the second day, along with frightening visual images and exhaustion. An amphetamine "run" may produce psychosis which can bring on uncontrollable violent behavior similar to paranoid schizophrenia.
Users can experience a "crash" after long periods of usage. The crash can result in depression and suicidal ideation.
Are You a Speed Freak?
Do you use speed regularly?Do you think about how and when you're going to use speed again?Is your work or school performance affected by your drug use?Are you having problems with family and friends?Do you spend more on speed than you can afford?Do you use drugs in addition to amphetamines?
Amphetamines are not bad. Very few drugs are. Its the people who abuse them that make them bad. Both pharmaseutical amphetamines and their more potent, illegal methamphetamines hybrids are great if used correctly. If you've read this far down the article, you'll already know the many uses and benefits of these drugs.
If you are someone who has no problems with addiction, there should be no problem your using them correctly, whether it be recreationally to have some fun, therapeutically to help with your self-esteem, or vocationally to study for a test or finish a client's estimate, except maybe that it could be against the law.
However, if you have addiction running in your family, with maybe a father as an alcoholic and an uncle who is addicted to drugs, or you have trouble saying no to cigarettes, Heinekens, gambling, porn or even food, then you may want to think twice about even trying amphetamines once. In fact, if there is any doubt in your mind whatsoever that you may not be able to say "no" to something you like, DO NOT try it, ever.
That being said, you may want to check out my article, The "Totally" Esctasy Experience, but as with everything, its basically up to you how you want to live your life. You can experience or not experience pretty much anything you want. It sometimes comes down to how much of an adventurer you are. Do you like to try new things? Do you like to experience life to the fullest? Do you like to experiment?
If this picture of a long term speed user doesn't scare you, nothing will!
Try it at your own risk... let me know what happened (or didn't happen) with a comment.
Don't you ever say I told you to! On the contrary, I warned you!
Written By: Tom Retterbush
The story begins with chemist Gordon Alles's creation of amphetamine in 1929 and continues through its use for weight loss, attention deficit disorders and today's crystal meth craze. Smith, Kline & French (now GlaxoSmithKline) bought the rights for use of the drug and marketed it to treat depression. During WWII, British and American soldiers developed an amphetamine appetite as RAF medics distributed wakey-wakey tablets to bomber crews. At the book's core is an outstanding chapter, Bootleggers, Beatniks and Benzedrine Benders, describing how Benzedrine inhalers, available without a prescription, could be cracked open for a totally new kind of amphetamine experience, exerting a potent influence on music and literature.
