AMPHETAMINE, METHAMPHETAMINE AND METHYLPHENIDATE
(including Adderall and Ritalin)

speed | meth | crank | crystal | ice | dexies | black beauties | hearts | whiz

Users snort, smoke, swallow, or inject speed.

Found in: Diet pills and certain prescription medications as well as in undiluted forms. Common brand names include Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and Dexedrine.

Source: The lab.

Legal code: Milder forms are legal by prescription to help control weight, treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or the sleeping disorder called narcolepsy.

History: These drugs were developed in the 1920s in an attempt to make a synthetic form of ephedrine to treat asthma. Amphetamine in the form of nasal inhalers (Benzedrine) became very popular very fast for its euphoric effects.

Effects: Users describe a sense of well-being, increased endurance and energy, short-lived euphoria, heightened alertness, and elimination of fatigue. There is also an increased ability to concentrate. These feelings of happiness and confidence usually lead to a high risk of dependence. Speed increases heart and respiratory rates and can decrease appetite. Effects last for 4 to 6 hours.

Risks: There's a serious risk of overdose, with convulsions, high fevers, coma, and possibly death from heart failure, ruptured blood vessels in the brain, or hypothermia. Speed can produce an irregular heartbeat, increased sweat, higher body temperature, and insomnia. When used in conjunction with exercise, speed can become fatal because of the increase in body temperature. Repeated high doses can lead to a psychotic paranoid state. Long-term use can lead to hallucinations, delusions, and violent and self-destructive behavior. Injecting speed puts the user into AIDS and hepatitis risk territory because of contaminated needles.

Do not combine with: Decongestants or MAO inhibitor antidepressants.

Addiction rating: High.