Amphetamine Abuse
Amphetamines or stimulants are one of three most commonly abused prescription drugs. The other drugs being opiods for pain and central nervous system depressants used for anxiety and sleep disorders. Amphetamines are used for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.
Amphetamines are essentially stimulants, common trade names are DexedrineŽ (dextroamphetamine), RitalinŽ and ConcertaŽ (methylphenidate), and AdderallŽ (amphetamine). They can come in a pill or a powder. Normally they are taken orally, snorted or injected. Methamphetamine has a more recent form called crystallized methamphetamine hydrochloride or by the street names "Ice", "Glass", or "Crystal". This form of methamphetamine can be smoked causing more rapid effects but in addition to the below short and long-term effects, damages the lungs and brain as well.
RitalinŽ has been one amphetamine that has been abused heavily since the 1990s. What started out as a prescription for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) rapidly turned street drug. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), "Poison control data, emergency room data and high school surveys all indicate that the abuse of methylphenidate (RitalinŽ) has increased significantly since 1990."
All amphetamines are classified under the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, as Schedule II stimulants which means they have a high potential for abuse and limited medical uses. When given a prescription for an amphetamine it cannot be refilled.
Short-term Effects of Amphetamine Abuse
The immediate effects of amphetamine use is increased blood pressure, increased pulse rate, insomnia, loss of appetite, prolonged periods of wakefulness and physical exhaustion. As the stimulant increases body activity and decreases sleep and appetite use can lead to malnutrition. Tolerance, meaning that more of the drug is needed to produce the usual effects, rapidly develops. This leads to dependence or addiction.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), repeated use of stimulants leads to feelings of hostility and paranoia. In fact, school violence, shootings, and suicides have been linked to adolescents on the stimulants RitalinŽ and DexedrineŽ.
Taking too large a dose at one time causes such effects as dizziness, tremors, headache, flushed skin, chest pain with palpitations, excessive sweating, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
It is common for users to move themselves up in dosage as tolerance increases. This rapidly leads to taking high-dosages chronically. This brings about a higher probability of agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and suicidal and homicidal tendencies. Paranoia, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations, both visual and auditory can occur.
The strongest physical dependence occurs with amphetamine, RitalinŽ (methylphenidate), methamphetamine, cocaine and methcathinone.
There is research suggesting the ineffectiveness of amphetamines for medical use.
Ceasing to take the drug abruptly, as when the abuser runs out after a binge, is followed by depression, anxiety, craving for the drug, and extreme fatigue.
Long-Term Effects of Amphetamine Abuse
Long-term use of amphetamines can produce a variety of serious consequences. Psychosis marked by paranoia, hallucinations both visual and auditory, picking at the skin (methamphetamine gives on the feeling that insects are crawling under the skin), preoccupation with one's own thoughts and violent and erratic behavior that causes harm to others or the environment or to the users own body.
The usual vitamin and mineral depletion caused by drug use is even more pronounced in amphetamine abuse. Severe malnutrition and dental problems are common among chronic abusers.
Signs of Amphetamine Abuse
The signs of amphetamine abuse are similar to methamphetamine abuse and in fact the two are often abused by the same person.
Obsessive, fidgety behavior
Repeatedly performing the same task over and over
Constant, rambling conversation
Inability to Sleep (this can last for days)
Absence from work or school or daily routine
Extreme sexual promiscuity
Sensitivity to Noise
Extreme Anorexia
Irritability
Dizziness
Confusion or inability to focus
Mood changes such as depression when coming down off amphetamine or methamphetamine
Exhaustion
Nervous Physical Activity (such as scratching)
Tremors or Convulsions
Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Paraphernalia (razor blades, mirrors, straws, syringes, heated spoons, surgical tubing, broken light bulbs or meth pipes, etc.)
Glassy Eyes and Large Pupils
"Crashing" (Sleeping for excessive periods of time.)
Help for Amphetamine Abusers
Narconon offers safe and effective drug withdrawal and addiction rehabilitation services. The Narconon drug rehabilitation program takes into account all of the aspects of amphetamine addiction and addresses each in a proper sequence so as to achieve the end result of a person living a drug-free life, productive and happily achieving their goals.
The withdrawal at Narconon makes it possible for the amphetamine abuser to come off of drugs without the use of drugs. Narconon drug-free withdrawal begins with medical approval and can be done without the discomfort associated with most withdrawal.
Following the Narconon withdrawal is a series of 8 steps each with it's own end product of addressing a specific aspect of drug addiction.
The success rate of the Narconon drug rehabilitation program is four times that of the international average. There is help for those addicted to amphetamines with the proven program of Narconon that has been helping people overcome drug addiction since 1966.