Amphetamine

Amphetamine is one of the so-called 'club drugs'. Big problem with abuse and addiction is due to amphetamine use as study aid. It is probably second drug among young people, just after cannabis as the most popular. Ice is a special form, one of amphetamines – it's methamphetamine (or methylamphetamine, both names are equal) ready to be smoked or injected. Concentration of compound in powder is higher than usual; ice is especially popular in America. Amphetamine is a fully synthetic drug, chemical synthesis is rather easy because of that amphetamine molecule is quite small and not complex. Amphetamine molecule exists in two forms, so-called stereoisomers (more exactly enantiomers), both forms are mirror images of each other (enantiomers). One enantiomer is called l-amphetamine and the second one d-amphetamine or more often dextroamphetamine. Street amphetamine purity is low. It is sold as white, yellow, pinky or gray powder. People who buy amphetamine usually don't know that only few percents of powder they've paid for is an amphetamine – the rest mass consists mixture of other, weaker stimulants like caffeine, drugs (e.g. paracetamol), glucose, talcum and fluor powder, dried baby milk etc. Amphetamine abuse may lead to schizophrenia. It is sometimes used by sportsmen as doping (Major League Baseball case). Amphetamine combined with barbiturates – so-called purple hearts – was popular among youth and led to the first media drug scare in UK after World War II. Street amphetamine taken by addicts is a white, yellow, gray on pinky powder – depending on the chemical purity, which is usually rather controversial.

formula molecule

Stimulants Abuse and Addiction – foreword

Trade

Trade & street names	amphetamine, amfetamine, α-methylphenethylamine, β-phenylisopropylamine, benzedrine, dextroamphetamine (term related to one of two stereoisomers of amphetamine) crank, ice, cristal, krystal meth, speed, greenies, speed sulph, sulphate, wake-ups, uppers, billy whizz, whizz, whites, base, pep pill, tonic, purple hearts
Products	Among commercial products amphetamine occurs as an ingredient of few medicaments, e.g.: amphetamine/dextroamphetamine – Adderall (tablets), Adderall XR (capsules) dextroamphetamine – Dexedrine, Dexedrine Spansule, DextroStat

Medical info

Class	stimulants
Medical use	attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder treatment, narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome treatment, treatment of symptoms of traumatic brain injury; all amphetamines are legall only when obtained via prescription
Routes	oral (e.g. mixed with drink), smoked, injected (solution), snorted up the nose
Effects of use	effects depend greatly on dosage and usual method; increased alertness, increased physical energy level, excitation, euphoria, increased pulse rate and blood pressure, increased breathing, increased stamina, insomnia, loss of appetite, restless, anxiety, irritability, hypertensions, poor skin condition, headache, tremor, restlessness, changed sleep patterns, anxiety, weakened immune system, heart problems, stroke, liver, kidney and lung damage. At high doses hyperactivity, which often manifests as non-stop talking but is also percepted by people as increased mental powers and flow of ideas. Repetitive doses during long-time period produce panic and paranoia and with high doses the so-called amphetamine psychosis (symptoms similar to schizophrenia)
Effects of overdose	hyperactivity, agitation, increased body temperature, jitteriness, hallucinations, convulsions, increased perspiration (hyperhidrosis)
Withdrawal effects	apathy, long periods of sleep, irritability, depression, disorientation
Onset	?
Duration of action	2-4 hours