Amphetamines can be snorted just as easily as swallowed

If a spider can't build a web after being exposed to drugs, what makes you think you can?

Stimulants are a class of drugs causing rapid physical and mental deterioration, and if you've seen those before and after photo's of amphetamine users, you know. Rarely do people continue abusing amphetamines for very long because they either get busted for some type of drug-related criminal behavior, or collapse from physical, and psychological deterioration. They too, lose the ability to build a web, the web of life.

Spiders on Drugs

The focus of this 101 article is on stimulants, and some of the addictive, more abused drugs in this category. Crack cocaine, cocaine, and bathtub methamphetamine will be discussed in the next 101 article. The before and after photos of a methamphetamine addict still apply to those abusing other types of prescription stimulants because they too can wreck an individual real quick-like.

Drug abuse before and after

There have been some drugs marketed recently that have the same affects as amphetamines but are not as strong as some of the typical stimulants. These drugs are used for appetite suppression and carry the potential for abuse just as much as the other drugs in the amphetamine category. The anorectic drugs will be listed first. Amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants. Caffeine is purposely left off the list because you would be hard-pressed to show a person addicted to this drug committing armed robberies to obtain a jar of Folgers from the proceeds.

   Amphetamine sulphate

Stimulants

• Benzphetamine (Didrex)
• Diethylproprion (Tenuate, Tepanil)
• Fenfluramine (Pondimin)
• Mazindol (Sanorex, Mazanor)
• Phendimetrazine (Bontril, Prelu-2, Plegine)
• Phentermine (Ionamin, AdipexP)

Stronger Stimulants

• Dextroamphetamine – Adderal
• Dextroamphetamine sulphate – Dexedrine
• Methamphetamine hydrochloride – Desoxyn (high potential for abuse)
• Methylphenidate – Ritalin

This is hardly an exhaustive list, and links are provided for further information.

Amphetamines can be swallowed, smoked, snorted, and/or injected, depending on the ingredients in the drug. Some drugs are not well-suited for injection because of their insolubility in water. However, a drug called Desoxyn wasn’t made for injection, but prepared right, can be accomplished.

If you ever heard of the term “bones” before, this is a reference to the drug Desoxyn, a methamphetamine. Hard-core speed freaks save these bones from leftover pills after they have been soaked, and mostly drained of their drug. Save enough of them, and you can tweak, or squeeze a little more of the drug out of these used pills, enough for another fix. They actually become springy, and resume their shape once you let up on the pressure. Bic pen’s were the tool used when this was presented to me, and the person repeatedly smashed  the pill to coax the last few remaining molecules of the drug out of the bones. The pill was almost like a soft plastic with an elastic capability.

  Commonly prescribed drug for ADHD

Although this took place many years ago, the drug is still abused but couldn’t find out whether Desoxyn was still sold as the yellow pill that was sought after. In any event, no matter how you are getting this stufff into your body, the following are some of the side-effects of the stimulants.

Side-effects can encompass rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, tremor, loss of coordination, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance to the drug, addiction, chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, strokes, seizures, headaches, memory loss, cardiac, and neurological damage, digestive problems, insomnia, euphoria, dyskinesia, dysphoria, tremor, headache, increase in motor, and phonic tics, and Tourette's syndrome.

Amphetamines can be particularly dangerous due their action in increasing heart rate, and blood pressure. They can also cause sudden death and adverse cardiovascular events. According to RxList, “The most severe manifestation of chronic intoxication is psychosis often clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia. Abuse and/or misuse of methamphetamine have resulted in death. Fatal cardio-respiratory arrest has been reported in the context of abuse and/or misuse of methamphetamine.” Desoxyn is prescribed for ADHD, as well as for obesity. Amphetamines should not be used with over-the-counter decongestant medicines, antidepressants, and some asthma medications.

Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderal), and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta), are commonly prescribed medications. Physicians order these med’s for patients with narcolepsy, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and depression, among other things. Because they are widely prescribed, abuse potential rises because of availability.

Cardiovascular and psych risks w/ ADHD drugs

Not only do amphetamines pose a serious risk for addiction and fatalities, but will exacerbate pre-existing behavioral disturbances in children with ADHD. Treatment using amphetamines can also induce psychotic episodes, or manic symptoms even while using normal doses. There is also the possibility that children with ADHD treated with amphetamines may show a worsening of aggression, or hostile behavior. Abuse of these drugs by teens is also rising.

Side effects of Ritalin

While it can’t be stressed enough that this class of drugs poses significant risks even under a physician’s care, abusing amphetamines is extremely dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. If you do have a problem with these drugs, find help. Addicts abusing amphetamines usually don’t last very long, as said earlier, so it is very important that you seek assistance before it is too late.

Whether you are abusing amphetamines, or other hard drugs, including alcohol, the big picture risks usually end up taking the addict to one of 3 places - jails, institutions, or death. For 17 young adults in the small town of Swampscott who died in the space of 5 years, drugs dropped them off at death's doorstep.

If you or a loved one needs help with any type drug problem, contact any of these sites depending on where you reside. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland Countyresidents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents).

Spanish speaking readers can access SAMHSA's site on this page under Habla Con Tus Hijos.

In the flow...

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 (Photos by acomputer, VisualBeo, and Twirligig - Wikimedia Commons)

Stimulants: Substance Abuse Treatment 101 by Michael Velardo, a.k.a. Crash Test Addict is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.