Chapter 10

Stimulants are the drugs that speed up signals that pass through the CNS, heightening arousal and increasing behavioral activity along the way

Described as the class of drugs with the “most immediate sensual appeal”, people who enjoy the effects of stimulants are more likely to want to take them again

The three main types we will view are:◦ Amphetamines◦ Methamphetamines◦ Cocaine (Crack included)

First synthesized in 1887, the first drug on the US market containing amphetamines was an over the counter nasal decongestant, issued in 1932

This drug was used during WWII to make soldiers “more alert” in combat

By 1971 the FDA banned the drug as a component within decongestant medications. Now it is commonly ingested orally or sniffed in powder form

In recent history, amphetamines have been used to treat depression, alcoholism, schizophrenia, obesity, ADD/ADHD

Usually taken in tablet or capsule form, between 2.5-10mg dosages, typical effects include:◦ Heightened competence in motor skills and mental

acuity◦ Increased alertness, feeling of arousal/wakefulness◦ Feeling of increased energy◦ Stimulation of the need for motor activity(particularly

walking and talking)◦ Increased heartbeat◦ Inhibition of appetite ◦ Constriction of blood vessels◦ Feelings of euphoria◦ Dryness of the mouth◦ Feeling of confidence/grandeur

After long term usage of this drug, withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuance includes:◦ Severe depression◦ Obsession with suicide◦ Anxiety◦ Fatigue and/or lethargy◦ Sleeplessness◦ Nightmares◦ Fear◦ Irritability

Much more potent than amphetamines, this drug can be injected, snorted or smoked

At one time, it was marketed under the name Methedrine for appetite suppression and a nerve stimulant

Usage of Methedrine peaked in the 1960’s, when people used this drug in IV form◦ Some alternated between Heroin and Methedrine,

and for most people, the addiction to Heroin was more pervasive

People using this drug via IV administration could be up for a two to five days’ stretch, culminating in a “crash”: essentially sleeping for approximately 24 hours on end

Methamphetamine made a comeback in the 1980’s in pill form, known as “ice” but much more potent

Crystal Meth, what the drug is commonly known as today, is a smoke-able form, much like crack-cocaine

Acute Effects include:◦ Loss of appetite ◦ Increased heart rate, blood

pressure, body temperature ◦ Dilation of pupils ◦ Disturbed sleep patterns ◦ Nausea ◦ Bizarre, erratic, sometimes

violent behavior ◦ Hallucinations,

hyperexcitability, irritability ◦ Panic and psychosis ◦ Convulsions, seizures and

death from high doses

Chronic Effects Include:

◦ Permanent damage to blood vessels of heart and brain, high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes and death

◦ Liver, kidney and lung damage ◦ Destruction of tissues in nose if

sniffed ◦ Respiratory (breathing) problems

if smoked ◦ Infectious diseases and abscesses

if injected ◦ Malnutrition, weight loss ◦ Severe tooth decay ◦ Disorientation, apathy, confused

exhaustion ◦ Strong psychological dependence ◦ Psychosis ◦ Depression ◦ Damage to the brain similar to

Alzheimer’s disease,  stroke and epilepsy

Cocaine has very similar acute effects as amphetamines, however, the time in which the drugs last in one’s system differ. Cocaine lasts about a half an hour, where amphetamines can last for several hours

Cocaine has a pain killing property, to which has been synthesized and marketed as lidocaine, which is legally prescribed by physicians

Remember that cocaine was outlawed in accordance with the Harrison Tax Law of 1914, however, the drug’s illicit usage exploded in 1960’s

Most users sniff cocaine, in three distinct ways:◦ “doing lines” using a straw or dollar bills◦ Using a coke spoon◦ Scooping up powder with a long fingernail

Cocaine can be used in other forms as well:◦ Injecting

◦ Freebasing: dissolving the cocaine to its purest form, then smoking it or inhaling the vapors. Freebasing declined in popularity in the 80’s, as Crack emerged on the scene

Crack is a crystallized form of cocaine (and other additives, notably hydrochloride) which is smoked

Once inside the body, there is no distinction between cocaine and crack-cocaine

How much is consumed per person, daily, on average?

Based on an eight year study that was conducted, it was found that:◦ Intra-nasally,

if using a coke spoon, 20 mg. 50 mg if lines are snorted

◦ Smokers used 100 mg per administration. Most users that smoked cocaine would do so until there is no more drug left or until they are simply exhausted from the action

Cocaine’s use is very prevalent in the past and present, here are some notable figures who have admittedly used the drug:◦ Sigmund Freud◦ Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Dr. Jekyll and

Mr. Hyde, who wrote the book in 3 cocaine induced days

◦ Sherlock Holmes’ character is described as a cocaine addict

◦ Marion Barry, former Mayor of Washington D.C., who was busted using crack while in office, yet re-elected twice over by his constituents

You are a farmer living in Colombia and you are struggling to feed your family. Here are your options:

◦ sell yucca plants for 40 cents a kilo

◦ Sell cocaine paste for $750 per kilo

Which will you choose?

There are many urban tales about “the man” (notably the CIA) injecting hardcore drugs such as crack-cocaine intro inner city neighborhoods as a means to keep minorities in poverty and a state of oppression. Although there is no concrete evidence to back up this speculation, is this plausible?