about the author

Dr Nuke first came to notoriety in the 1960s with his pioneering drug testing work with beagles.
The limitations of these experiments lay in the beagles’ inability to provide subjective feedback
(commonly known as talking). It was alleged that random samples of students were then
kidnapped, locked in the beagles’ cages and forced to use a variety of mind expanding drugs.
These allegations only came to light after the subsequent riot when the students refused to
leave their cages at the end of the experiment. Shunned by the scientific community, Dr Nuke
set up his secret underground drug lab, where he continues with his search for the ultimate
pleasure chemicals.
On my birthday, I decided to hold a party where my friends were invited to bring along
some amphetamine. One had a handful of pills called dexies, another said he had
methamphetamine; another brought a little greasy blob saying it’s base; two turned up with
white crystals, one said it was ice, the other said it was crank, finally my cousin arrived back
from her trip to Eastern Europe with some vint. By this time they weren’t sure if they should
snort it, smoke it or clean the kitchen sink with it. But, fear not, my stimulant fancying friends,
for I have written this little booklet to help them and you understand amphetamine and its
chemical relatives and give you some advice about using these substances in a safer way.
Let’s start by looking at....

part 1. THE AMPHETAMINE FAMILY

Stimulants are drugs which speed up your mind and body, making you more alert, energetic
and talkative. Weaker stimulants include nicotine (in tobacco) and caffeine (in tea, coffee,
chocolate, cola, guarana, etc.). The caffeine and guarana in a can of Red Bull might give
you wings, but people use the stronger stimulants to really start flying. The two major groups
of stimulants are the cocaine and the amphetamine family of drugs. Another group of
drugs related to amphetamine is the phenylalkylamines. These have both stimulant and
hallucinogenic effects – the most famous of these is methylenedioxymethamphetamine,
MDMA for short, better know as ecstasy. You won’t be hearing much about ‘E’ as that side of
the family always gets the attention.

where does amphetamine come from?

Amphetamine sulphate was first made in 1887 by a German chemist called Edealano, but
it was not until 1932, that amphetamine was first made available as a medicine, in the form
of the Benzedrine Nasal Inhaler for the treatment of respiratory problems. Massive doses
of amphetamines were also given to soldiers in World War 2 (they march faster without
needing as much food). Amphetamine is short for alpha-methyl-phen-ethyl-amine. Its
chemical structure means it can be easily altered to produce a range of related drugs with
different effects. The amphetamine you buy for recreational use is usually illegally made,
both here and abroad (particularly the Netherlands). There are various ‘recipes’ for making
amphetamine sulphate, a common one uses BMK (benzylmethylketone), a chemical used in
the photographic industry. There are various starting points for making methamphetamine (I’ll
explain what that is later), though common precursors (a substance transformed chemically to
make something else) include ephedrine and amphetamine sulphate. The scale of production
varies from students with a chemistry degree making a few kilograms in the bath to criminal
gangs producing hundreds of kilograms in illicit ‘factories’.
pseudo-amphetamines
Pseudo-amphetamines are used as legitimate medicines and are the least popular with
drug users as they are generally the ‘weakest’ types of amphetamine. They are chemically
engineered for a specific medical purpose, such as reducing appetite (phentermine - brand
name Duromine), as anti-depressants (aminoamphetamine - brand name Pheniprazine) and
for hyperactivity in children, methylphenidate (brand name Ritalin). Of those still available
on prescription in Britain, the most popular among recreational drug users are Ritalin and
Duromine, selling for between 50p to £2 per tablet. Ephedrine has similar stimulant effects
to many pseudo-amphetamines (that is, physical rather than pleasurable). Ephedrine
occurs naturally in many plants (e.g. the desert shrub ephedra). Variations of ephedrine are
available in over-the-counter products in British chemists (e.g. pseudoephedrine in respiratory
remedies).

amphetamine sulphate
Amphetamine sulphate is a mixture of two chemical compounds. Let me introduce you
to the chemical brothers Laevo (laevo-amphetamine) and Dextro (dextro-amphetamine,
usually shortened to dexamphetamine). Laevo and Dextro are almost identical twins, laevo-
amphetamine has a weaker and more physical effect, while dextro-amphetamine has a
stronger and more psychological (in the mind) effect. In short Dextro is a party animal, you’d
want to hang out with while Laevo is a bit of a ‘Billy no-mates’.

When amphetamine sulphate is

manufactured, an equal mixture of laevo-
amphetamine and dextro-amphetamine is
produced - this mix is known as racemic
amphetamine (remember this as I’ll be
testing you on it later). So to recap class;

dextro = strong and buzzy:

laevo = weak and boring;
racemic = half dextro and half laevo.

Now you may or may not be wondering where

the sulphate bit of amphetamine sulphate
comes from (I’m gonna tell you anyway).
Just as flour and eggs mixed in a bowl can
become Yorkshire pudding or pancakes
depending on how you cook them, the
chemical mixture (or base) for amphetamine
will come out differently depending on the
acid you use on it.
the chemical brothers
The acid reacts with the chemical mixture to form a salt. If you use sulphuric acid you end up
with sulphate, if you use hydrochloric acid you end up with hydrochloride. Amphetamine
sulphate is the salt formed by reaction of the amphetamine base with sulphuric acid, and
provides a stable, marketable powder. Amphetamine hydrochloride is rarely made as this salt
absorbs water, making this form of the drug a less marketable product (the powder usually
turns into an oily patch on the paper wraps in which it is packaged).

amphetamine sulphate = half laevo-amphetamine & half dextro-amphetamine

purity and adulterants
The maximum theoretical purity of amphetamine sulphate powder is 73% - the other 27%
being made up by the salt base. Though the amphetamine sulphate powders seized by the
police range from less than 1% to up to 60% purity the average is about 5%. You make
a gram of amphetamine sulphate, then add three or four grams of ‘bash’ (all the rest of
the crap they put in). ‘Bash’ is typically the sugars glucose and lactose, and occasionally
bicarbonate of soda. Often the minor legal stimulants caffeine and occasionally ephedrine
are added to produce standard whiz/speed powder. Also, when speed is made by amateurs
in bathrooms and kitchens, they sometimes fail to ‘wash out’ unpleasant chemicals arising
in the manufacture of the product, such as lead and acids (particularly bad for injectors).
Amphetamine sulphate sells for between £5 and £15 a gram.

amphetamine sulphate = 5% pure

amphetamine paste/base
Amphetamine sulphate is usually around 5% pure. If you
could get hold of it before all the rest of the shit is added to
it you’d have a pretty strong drug. Well that’s the theory, the
reality is a bit different. Base and paste are slang names
for a stronger form of illicit racemic amphetamine sulphate.
Although in a far purer (stronger) form than standard street
speed powder, base or paste is still cut. The purity of paste
is typically between 15% and 20%. Forensic analyses
of paste seized by the police also show that a common
adulterant is magnesium stearate (used in candles), which
explains the usual appearance of this speed product (damp
and waxy). Whilst paste is usually stronger, remember that
if you let it dry out, you would lose more than a third of its
weight. Paste sells for between £15 and £30 per gram.

amphetamine paste/base = purer amphetamine sulphate (15-20%).

dexamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine sulphate (dexamphetamine) is purified
amphetamine sulphate (i.e. the dexamphetamine is separated
out, and the laevo-amphetamine is discarded). It is produced
by drug companies as Dexedrine tablets or ‘Dexies Midnight
Runners’. Diverted (stolen) from chemists, they were the fuel
of the mod and northern soul scene of the 1960’s. Dexedrine
is the only kind of stimulant amphetamine currently prescribed
in Britain - in the form of 5mg tablets or syrup. The tablets
are white, scored and marked ‘Evans’ and sell for £1-2 each.
Though medical authorities recommend it for the treatment
of narcolepsy and hyperactivity in children only, it is also
prescribed to illicit speed users at about a dozen drug clinics in
the UK as a harm reduction intervention - that is, to
prevent use or injection of illicit street speed.

dextroamphetaime = amphetamine sulphate with laevo amphetamine taken out.

methamphetamine
Methylamphetamine or methamphetamine is produced in a different way from amphetamine
sulphate. It has a different chemical structure, somewhere between amphetamine sulphate and
MDMA (ecstasy). It is usually made as a hydrochloride, rather than a sulphate, so it can look
like a powder or cocaine sized crystals (known as ‘‘crank’’ in the U.S). Methylamphetamine
hydrochloride is generally regarded as a far more powerful stimulant than dexamphetamine,
partly because the effects can last for up to twice as long, and partly because the effects are
also more psychological and less ‘physical’. It is often claimed to be the ‘sexiest’ kind of speed.

Methamphetamine has many different chemical names, and when

produced by drug companies comes under a variety of trade
names - the best known are Methedrine and Pervitin (in East
Europe). Methamphetamine powder, is rarely available in Britain
and has yet to achieve any sort of ‘brand recognition’ or standard
price. Methamphetamine, like amphetamine sulphate contains the
chemical brothers Laevo and Dextro (dextro-methamphetamine
and laevo-methamphetamine). If you purify methamphetamine
to take out Dextro (the party animal), you are left with laevo-
methamphetamine, a drug of little use to drug users but used as
a medicine in the USA. If you purify methamphetamine to take out
Laevo (the dull one), you end up with dextro-methamphetamine
hydrochloride powder. This can be made into much larger
crystals, known as ‘ice’ or crystal meth.

methamphetamine = different chemical structure from amphetamine sulphate,

contains dextro and laevo. take out laevo and you can make crystal meth.

crystal methamphetamine (ice)

Crystal methamphetamine (ice) is “smokable” speed. Though
still rare in Britain, it’s known by various names across the world,
including “shabu” by Japanese, “hiroppon” by Koreans, and “batu” by
Phillipinoes. The dextro-methamphetamine hydrochloride is dissolved
in warm water and allowed to cool. The slower the cooling the larger
the crystals. These can be up to several inches long and range in
colour from clear to a yellowy brown. They will dissolve if you put them
in water and will start to melt if you hold them between your fingers
and therefore can not be smoked in a water pipe. Crystal meth is to
methamphetamine, what crack is to cocaine. In short, both ice and
crack are smokable versions of stimulant products. Standard cocaine
and methamphetamine powders can be smoked, but most of the
drug will be destroyed by heating unless they are converted into their
more smokable forms. Some people mistakenly think ice is ‘freebase’
methamphetamine; untrue, as freebase methamphetamine is a liquid
at room temperature and is charmingly known as ‘snott’ in the U.S.
Smoking ice produces very intense stimulant effects in the brain within about 10 seconds, with
the intense euphoria lasting several hours and residual effects lasting up to 24 hours. Smoking
ice is regarded as the most euphoric and habit-forming method of speeding. Crack smokers
who have tried ice say it is less intense than smoking crack, but goes on for much longer
without the same intense craving.
the chemical brothers

KEY. Start with amphetamine sulphate; A blue arrow shows if Laevo or Dextro have been
separated. A red arrow shows a change in chemical structure. A move to the left means the
drug is less speedy: a move to the right and it is more speedy. A move up and the drug is
more ‘in the mind’ ; a move down and it is more physical.
other amphetamine-like drugs
Two chemical cousins which do not fit so neatly into the family of amphetamines are
cathinone and cathine, which are amphetamine-like drugs found in the leaves of khat (or
qat). In Britain, they are only illegal if they are extracted from the plant or made synthetically.
Khat is a shrub which was originally grown and chewed in North Eastern Africa, and whose
use later spread to Yemen. Immigrants from these areas have also brought the khat habit to
Western people - including the younger residents of British cities like London, Birmingham and
Liverpool.
Lastly, a recent example of a semi-synthetic cousin of amphetamine is methylcathinone, which
can be manufactured from cathinone. Broadly speaking, methylcathinone is to cathinone what
methylamphetamine is to amphetamine - for instance, it gives a longer and “better” buzz. In
the USA it is known by the slang names of “cat”, “goob” and “morning star”, and has become
the new “demon drug” in the mass media in California and some other states.

part 2 THE EFFECTS

how is speed used?

Typical occasional users swallow or sniff a
moderate dose of speed about one to three times
a month. When speed powder is swallowed, it is
usually wrapped in a cigarette paper or dissolved
into a soft drink, because it tastes like ‘burnt piss’.
If the powder is snorted, it is chopped up with a
razor blade on a mirror and then formed into small
thin lines and after giving your nose a good blow,
snorted up a short makeshift tube (e.g. rolled
up bank note, cut-down straw) onto the nasal
membranes. Depending on adulterants and other
factors, this can cause a severe burning sensation,
and even nosebleeds. Many users wash out their
noses with water after snorting speed, to minimize
damage. When speed is smoked in the form of ice,
the most suitable device is a glass pipe (known as
‘sucking the glass dick’ in the USA).

Egg head research boffins (like myself)

have worked out that the typical
regular user consumes about half
a gram to four grams of speed per
day, averaging a gram a day for one
to five days a week. Up to two-thirds
of regular users may binge on speed
for periods of two to six days, often
missing sleep for one or more nights.
Although most regular users still snort
or swallow, a number inject it, at least
on occasions (ice is still rare in Britain,
and so therefore is smoking speed).
mixing it
Many users of speed are poly-drug users who mix it with other drugs, which modifies the
effects of the drugs consumed in various ways. The most common ‘mixes’ with amphetamines
include:
smoking cannabis while speeding – this can take ‘the edge’ off speed, though it
is harder to get stoned while speeding;
drinking alcohol while speeding – amphetamines allow people to drink larger
amounts while not feeling so drunk ;
taking speed with ecstasy is a fairly common ‘mix’ at nightclubs and dance
parties, believed to provide more energy to the ecstasy buzz – but also
increasing the risk of health problems;
injecting a mixture of heroin and amphetamines (or typically cocaine), which is
known
as a ‘speedball’ – a fairly rare mix, only for the most dedicated drug hogs.
substances which are known to interact badly with amphetamines - include
MAOI’s (beta blockers) and tyramine (a food dye found in some red wines
and cheeses).

how long does it last for?

Most people would get some stimulant effect from 5 mg (a reasonable sized line) of
amphetamine sulphate; most occasional users would use more in the range of 10-30 mg
a session (a half-gram wrap of street speed at 5% purity would contain about 25 mg of
amphetamine). However, tolerance caused by frequent use may lead to the heaviest users
taking up to 100 mg in a single injection or ‘snort’. The nature and intensity of the effects of
amphetamine are affected by various things, like your mood, the situation,and the amount you
take. The effects of amphetamines come on gradually in 15 minutes to an hour if swallowed,
five to ten minutes if sniffed, and within seconds if smoked or injected (this rapid onset of
effects is called a rush or flash). The duration of effects also depends on the dose, method
of use etc, but is in the range of 6 to 12 hours for amphetamine sulphate, and 12 to 24 hours
for methamphetamine. When repeated doses are taken once or more a day, users can go on
‘runs’, with little or no sleep, for several days.

effects of amphetamines
The main positive effects of amphetamines include increased energy, alertness, euphoria and
sociability, while the main negative effects are the come-down (fatigue, depression), paranoia
and insomnia. Though the effects on mind and body are interrelated, it is easier to understand
if they are looked at separately.

effects on the body

A caveman suddenly comes across a sabre- toothed tiger, In less than a second his brain
is sending chemical telephone calls to his body, which reacts by increasing his heartbeat
and the size of the arteries in his heart and muscles as well as releasing hormones, such
as adrenaline, which increase emotional arousal. He feels like he has more energy, is more
excited and alert, doesn’t feel the need to eat and has a sudden need to shit his pants. His
body is now prepared to “run like fuck” (shitting = less weight in the body, so he can run faster)
or “batter the bastard”. This adrenaline-based state is a primary survival mechanism known
for obvious reasons as the fight or flight mechanism. When you take amphetamine your brain
sends signals to your body that make it mimic this mechanism.
the main effects of amphetamine are:

increased brain power increased energy and activity

intensified mood
improved awareness
and perceptions

greater sociability
and talkativeness

changes to
appearance
of eyes

muscular
tension

dry mouth,
lips, and eyes

slight increase in
physical strength

faster heartbeat, pulse,

breathing, and higher
blood pressure;

lack of hunger
Involuntary evacuation
of bladder & bowels -
whilst this is part of the
flight or fight mechanism
mimicked by the effects
increased body temperature - of speed, in reality unless
but cold feet and hands caught red handed by
your mum or a dealer
you owe money to this
is unlikely- it is included
here purely for cheap
comic effect.
 The main physical effects of amphetamine are:

speeding up of bodily organs and systems - faster heartbeat, pulse

(100-130bpm), breathing, and higher blood pressure;
increased body temperature, sometimes with colder hands and feet (due to the
blood being drawn into the centre of the body);
drying up of bodily membranes (e.g. mouth, lips, and eyes) - speed dehydrates you;
changes to appearance of eyes (e.g. big pupils, wide open eyes and jerky eye
movements);
muscular tension (e.g. twitching of face and limbs, jaw clenching, lip chewing).
Amphetamine does not have dramatic effects on physical strength, though it
can make people a little stronger for a little longer than usual.

After amphetamines have done their job in the brain, they are broken down by the
body into metabolites (simpler chemical structures), and mainly excreted in piss and
sweat over a 48 hour period (but mostly within 24 hours). Like other drug users,
some speed users facing urine tests for drugs attempt to accelerate the excretion of
amphetamines from their body by various methods - including drinking large amounts
of water, acidifying their urine by consuming fruit juices, consuming lots of caffeine, or
taking prescription diuretics – all of which boost excretion of amphetamine metabolites
through increased urination.

effects on the mind

Like all psychoactive drugs, amphetamines produce their main desired effects by
changing the brain’s chemical messaging system. Amphetamine boosts levels of two
major chemical messengers in the brain (known as neurotransmitters): these are
noradrenaline and dopamine, both of which are involved in feelings of pleasure,
alertness and mental energy. Larger doses of methamphetamine are also believed to
boost the levels of another neurotransmitter, serotonin, which is involved in mood and
memory.
The main effects on the mind are;
increased energy and activity – you don’t feel tired and have a preference for
repetitive actions; speed is renowned for its capacity to turn a sleepy tired person into
a wide-awake, energetic one;
improved awareness and perceptions: amphetamine users can be hyper-vigilant,
picking up sounds and movements more efficiently than usual - though fully dilated
pupils can also lead to blurred vision;
increased brain power – IQ is temporarily raised by about 8 points in people who
have taken a standard dose of amphetamines, and some kinds of thinking and
memory skills are improved;
intensified mood (emotional states of mind) – euphoria is a typical outcome of
using speed, but other mood states may also be intensified (e.g. anger or sadness);
greater sociability and talkativeness – speed users often seek out company so that
they can exercise their urge to talk (longer and faster than usual, meaning that they
don’t listen as much); but higher doses and other factors may cause paranoia;
lack of hunger – speed stops you feeling hungry, though for many people the
anorexic effects tend to go away with regular use, and most users find that their
hunger returns with a vengeance the day after speeding.
Engaging in repetitive sequences of behaviour is a hallmark of the effects of amphetamines.
Called stereotypy by scientists, this effect explains why amphetamines are preferred for such
behaviours as driving, sexual intercourse, typing/writing, running and dancing. However, when
the user has no particular focus for their chemical energy, like a laboratory animal given speed
in an empty cage, they may engage in compulsive repetitive activity known as punding - for
instance, walking around in circles or tapping. One common form, known as knick knacking,
involves touching and picking at the face and extremities (e.g.
the feet) for long periods of time – which partly explains the
complexion of speed freaks. Heavy speed use may also result
in committed but disorganized behavior, such as taking apart a
television to repair it but not being able to put it back together
again. The two-sided coin of speed effects is illustrated by NASA
research into the effects of different drugs on spiders’ web-
making performance:
“On Benzedrine ... the house spider spins
its web with great gusto, but apparently
without much planning, leaving large holes”
(New Scientist, 4/95).

Among the weirder

psychological effects of speed
is false facial recognition.
Associated with heavier use,
this involves thinking that
you have seen someone you
recognize, only to realize shortly
after that it is a stranger with a
resemblance to the person you
thought he/she was.

the comedown
Speed works by releasing the body’s stored energy reserves - so rather than giving you “free’
chemical energy, it allows you to “borrow” energy from the next day. Consequently, speeding
for a single day/night generally leads to a come-down lasting about another day, while speed
runs of several days can lead to a major come-down of a similar length known as a ‘crash’.
The come-down is based on physical and mental tiredness - a kind of
severe fatigue brought about by the fact that you used up today’s energy
yesterday. The after-effects on the body include jaw ache, sensitivity
to light, cracked lips, dry or spotty skin, upset stomach, dizziness and
aching muscles - including backache, which often leads neurotic people
on a come-down into worrying that they have damaged their kidneys.
The come-down effects on the mind
include feeling tired, confused, hungry,
depressed, irritable, wallowing in self-
pity and lacking concentration (especially
forgetting words). Following a speed
run/binge of several days, users may fall
asleep suddenly (crash) and stay asleep
for 24 hours or longer.
effects on particular activities

driving.
Moderate doses of amphetamine make you more alert and quick to react. This improves vari-
ous skills relevant to driving (which is why military pilots have often been given amphetamines
before embarking on missions). However, users tend to over-estimate their driving ability and
take more risks, including driving too fast – which means that speeding can lead to speeding!
As the amphetamine wears off and the come-down kicks in, users are most likely to show
dodgy driving behavior.

sex.
Although everybody is different in what turns them on, amphetamine sulphate is not generally
known as an aphrodisiac; methamphetamine on the other hand, is far more likely to start a
party in your pants. In Russia they have a type of methamphetamine known on the streets
as ‘vint’, vint is the Russian word for ‘shag’ and is associated with group sex sessions.
Crystal meth is starting to appear in Britain, much of it bought in small amounts from the
gay bathhouses of San Francisco or Sydney, where it is also associated with group sex. This
does not mean however, that methamphetamine will turn you into a ‘lurve slave’; group sex is
surprisingly common in Russia and gay men don’t need any excuse to start shagging.

Some users report having more powerful orgasms and erotic

experiences when speeding, though users of many other drugs also
say this of their favorite chemical. Some users claim that they get
better erections while speeding (though not many women seem to
mention this). Many men also report that speed produces a dramatic
decrease in the size of the flaccid penis (known as ‘shrink dick’).
Getting an erection (in men) and a lack
of lubrication (in women) are commonly
reported problems with amphetamine
sulphate, as are delay in orgasm in both
men and women. Whilst this may not
sound like a problem (particularly for
women), grinding away for hours on end
can be frustrating and boring (in both
senses). If you do plan for a marathon
sex session, strong condoms
and a water based lubricant can
help prevent (to use a technical
term) shaft chaffing or fanny
friction. Carrying and using
condoms is wise anyway as
sexually transmitted diseases
are on the increase among
young Britons.
 part 3 THE RISKS

the law
Pseudo-amphetamines can be obtained with a prescription
or brought over the counter at chemists and many are not
covered by the main drug law ‘The Misuse of Drugs Act’.
Amphetamines can be prescribed by doctors, and legally
dispensed by pharmacists to people with a prescription.
However, prescribing of amphetamines is effectively
restricted to dexamphetamine in tablets or syrup
(methamphetamine can only be dispensed from
hospital pharmacies).

The main amphetamines – amphetamine sulphate,

dexamphetamine, and methamphetamine – are
controlled under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act as
class B drugs - though when in injectable form
they become class A drugs. The maximum penalties
attached to possession of amphetamines are up to
5 years imprisonment and/or a fine if sentencing
takes place at a crown court. In reality in most
cases of simple possession, that is where the
police think the drug was just for your use, you will
receive a caution and /or a small fine (average
about £100). If you are under 18, your parents will
be informed and you will either receive a reprimand
(like a caution for adults) or a final warning. A final
warning means you will have to report regularly to
a Youth Offending Team, for up to 12 weeks. If
the police think the amount of speed you are caught
with (ie several grams) is more than you need for
personal use, you may be charged with possession
with intent to supply. If found guilty of this, or of
supplying or making speed, you may get a free stay
at one of the Windsor chain of hotels (between six
months and three years).

health
Some experts claim that occasional or moderate use is not harmful to most people’s health.
However, heavy use, or prolonged moderate use, may damage the cardiovascular system
(heart), the immune system and/or central nervous system. First, constant strain on the
cardiovascular system may lead to high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm and even
stroke. Second, like most drugs, amphetamines reduce the efficiency of the immune system.
Combined with poorer eating and sleeping habits, this can substantially increase the risks of
infection and illness in regular users. Third, there is evidence that high doses of amphetamine,
particularly methamphetamine, produce dopaminergic nerve terminal degeneration (sounds
nasty!). Though some sources claim that such brain damage is irreversible, the evidence is not
conclusive. Lastly, injecting speed or any drug is associated with particular health problems,
including damage to the veins and transmission of infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, hepatitis).
addiction
Although there is a tolerance with amphetamine (over time, it takes more of the drug to
get the same effect), amphetamine use does not cause physical addiction – like heroin or
cigarettes - so, there is no need to detoxify (slowly reducing the amount you use). A long-term
regular user can just stop completely, although they will experience come-down effects for
several days to several months depending on the scale and size of their habit – and how much
sleep, rest and food they have missed. Regular users often report a craving for the drug (a
strong desire to use). However, compared with heroin, crack and tranquillizers, it is relatively
easy to stop using amphetamines. Mild to moderate depression is the main unpleasant after-
effect experienced by people giving up a speed habit - more serious cases are usually helped
by anti-depressants like Prozac.

amphetamine psychosis?
Unlike true psychosis, amphetamine psychosis
does not usually affect your memory or your
sense of the passage of time, or your identity
(who am I, where am I? etc). It is characterized
by depression which may alternate with
euphoria; suicidal thoughts are common. The
idea of amphetamine psychosis is based on
three core symptoms:
Ideas of reference: believing that particular objects or
events have special, personal meanings - for example,
the words of a song on the radio contain a message
for you.

Persecutory delusions: an irrational belief

that other people are trying to harm you in
some way, often accompanied by intense
fear or delusions of grandeur (they are after
me as I’m the only one who knows how to
save the world)
Hallucinations: these are typically auditory
(e.g. hearing voices inside your head), but may
be visual or tactile. For instance, one of the
classic speed psychosis hallucinations is called
formication or “crank bugs” - a belief/feeling that
insects or worms are crawling around underneath
the skin, with the worst cases also seeing “bugs”
(occasionally the odd dwarf) all around them as
well. Some speed freaks become totally convinced
by this delusion, and begin picking or cutting away
at their flesh to get the imaginary bugs out (messy).

The evidence also suggests that

amphetamine psychosis is a condition mainly
occurring in speed users already predisposed
to psychiatric or emotional problems. Most
people find that speed-induced paranoia
fades away when they stop using speed.
overdose
Though possible, fatal overdosing on amphetamines is fairly rare. This depends on a number
of things:

you;
Your sex, weight, how your body deals with drugs (metabolism) and your
tolerance (how much you are used to taking);.

the drug:
how it is taken (e.g. sniffed, injected etc); how much of it you have taken and how
pure it is.

Lethal doses:

for non-tolerant (new or occasional) users may start at around 50-100 mgs (1 to 2 grams of
5% pure amphetamine sulphate) for a small, susceptible person, while regular users who have
developed tolerance may require doses of several
hundred milligrams before fatal overdose becomes
likely.

The main symptoms of overdosing on

speed include muscle spasms, a racing
pulse and a high temperature, with other
symptoms including tremors, flushing,
excessive perspiration, chest pain,
abdominal cramps and vomiting – with
the person acting agitated and confused.
A potentially fatal overdose is likely
to result in convulsions (fits) or coma,
based on cerebrovascular collapse (of
blood vessels in the brain), heart failure
or hyperthermia (extreme fever).

death
“Speed Kills” was an anti-drug slogan in the 1960’s - but does speed really kill? In the
second half of the 90s, about 3,000-4,000 people a year attended health services for help
with problems related to their speed use. The official number of speed deaths in the UK
climbed from five or six a year in the late 80s, to 20-25 a year in the first half of the 90s, and
then to about 40 a year from the mid to late 90’s. This is similar to the death rate for cocaine.
Deaths related to amphetamines are generally caused by fatal overdoses, though also include
accidents and disease (e.g. HIV infection from sharing used needles). Many speed-related
deaths are similar to ecstasy deaths, which receive more attention in the mass media – that
is, they are based on heatstroke, hyperthermia, and blood thinning/clotting, followed by brain
seizures, heart attacks or kidney failure. Although the risk of death from taking speed is
relatively low compared to a drug like heroin, speed can and does kill people.
 part 4 TOP TIPS FOR SAFER SPEEDING

The only way to avoid any risk of harm from speed is not to use it. People who should
particularly avoid speed are those with psychiatric problems, respiratory complaints (eg.
asthma), and heart conditions (e.g. palpitations). There are many other healthier or at least
less risky ways of feeling ‘stimulated’, including physical exercise, mental techniques like
meditation, or using minor stimulants like caffeine. For those determined to take speed
anyway, the following advice should help reduce the risks of harmful consequences

moderation
Use occasionally – avoid using more than once a week, avoid using two or more
days in a row – allow your body to recover

Use moderate doses – physical side-effects are the main thing which increase with
the dose, and larger amounts can make you more jittery than
stimulated
Accidental overdose – check the strength and quality of a particular batch by asking
others who have taken it what they thought of it – err on the
side of caution when you have a new batch of speed: you can
always take more but you cannot take less.

reducing risk
Swallowing speed – is the least risky method of use (wrapped in a cigarette paper
or dissolved in a drink). Sniffing speed is the next least risky
method, though to minimize damage to the nasal membranes
its best to (a) start by chopping the powder up finely on a
mirror or such like, and (b) finish by rinsing your nose out with
water.

Smoking & injecting- are the most likely to result in overdose if you inhale/inject
too much in one go. Injecting is the most risky method for
well-know reasons. The main things to remember are: (a) be
hygienic, and (b) never use injecting equipment already used
by someone else. If you are injecting speed, it is important to
rotate the places on your body where you inject. It is a good
idea to visit a drug agency and get some advice on your
injection technique

Avoid driving– or operating dangerous machinery when speeding, but more

particularly when ‘coming down’ off speed.

Don’t talk shite– resist the temptation to say everything that you think about on
speed, and remember that interesting conversation involves
(a) saying only the best things you think of, and (b) listening
to other people as well as talking to them (and not constantly
interrupting them or talking them down). Don’t run the risk of
speed turning you into a bore.
staying healthy
Avoid losing too much sleep by taking speed at least 8 hours before bedtime,
and preferably over 12 hours before – don’t get into the habit of using sleeping pills,
alcohol or opiates (heroin etc) to get to sleep or feel better afterwards

Try to eat and drink as you normally would – if your appetite is suppressed, drink
a little more liquids than you normally would, and try eating easily swallowable food
like fruit, yoghurt etc. – though avoid anything with the red food dye tyramine (mixed
with speed, it can make you feel ill). Regular users are strongly advised to take
vitamin and mineral supplements.

Avoid overheating or overexerting yourself. Like the advice for ecstasy users: if
you are dancing at a club, remember to chill out and sip water/juice regularly (don’t
drink large amounts in one go). Even though you may feel like you have boundless
energy, remember to take rest, especially if involved in physical work or exercise.

Avoid mixing speed with other drugs, particularly alcohol (which also dehydrates
you) and beta-blockers (which can interact badly with speed) and watch your cigarette
smoking, which can increase dramatically when speeding. You’ll wake up with a
comedown, hangover and chesty cough combined.

Always carry condoms (just in case). The number of young people catching
sexually transmitted diseases is rocketing. Condoms and lubricant prevent chaffing,
disease and pregnancy

Avoid particular side-effects of speed by

preventive measures – for instance, wear
sunglasses in sunlight to avoid damage to retinas
(your pupils tend to stay dilated in bright light when
on speed); chew sugar free gum to avoid grinding
your teeth or biting your lips; resist any temptation
to pick at your skin (e.g. squeezing
spots), which can get out of hand when
speeding. Avoid ‘bum breath’ and tooth
decay by remembering to brush your
teeth, even if you don’t go to bed
if it all goes wrong
Unpleasant reactions to speed can be reduced by
acting appropriately and looking out for your friends if
they get into problems :

if you feel paranoid, go somewhere quiet

and safe. Calm and reassure your friends
that everything is OK;

if you start to pant, control your

breathing; breath in through your nose,
out through your mouth or try breathing
into a paper bag (if you have one);

if you overheat, cool down by removing

clothing, taking a rest and sipping a cold
drink;
if any of these become severe or if someone becomes ill on
speed (e.g., shaky, feeling sick) and gets worse rather than
better, take them to the nearest casualty department. If in
doubt get them to casualty.

If there are serious symptoms – if they collapse, are

unconscious or really lose it (have a mental break-
down)- an ambulance should be called immediately.
In many areas of the country (including Greater
Manchester) the ambulance service have adopted a new policy. They don’t call the
police in drug related emergencies (unless there is a death, a child is at risk or the
staff are threatened with violence). In any case, you don’t have to mention drugs on
the phone, just tell them that the person has collapsed or is unconscious and they will
come straight away.

Stay with them and calm them if they are conscious: if they are unconscious put
them on their side so that they don’t choke on their vomit (the recovery position).
Check there is nothing stopping them from breathing (like false teeth or gum). Check
their pulse and breathing and administer first aid if you know how. Always tell medics
and paramedics everything you know about the drugs that the person has taken. This
could save their life. If you regularly use with friends talk through what you would do in
an emergency.