Drugs and Our SocietyDrugs and Our SocietyAmphetaminesAmphetamines

Part 8Part 8

Amphetamines Amphetamines 1.1. Amphetamines have played an important role Amphetamines have played an important role

in our society since first being marketed in in our society since first being marketed in 1927 1927

-- it was given to American soldiers during it was given to American soldiers during WWII to fight fatigue / heighten mood / and WWII to fight fatigue / heighten mood / and increase enduranceincrease endurance

-- they do produce side effects which was they do produce side effects which was discovered in combatdiscovered in combat

-- Hitler’s bizarre behavior towards the end Hitler’s bizarre behavior towards the end of of the war was caused by amphetamine the war was caused by amphetamine useuse

Amphetamines, contAmphetamines, cont2.2. HistoryHistory

-- first used as a nasal decongestant and to first used as a nasal decongestant and to fight asthma which was very effectivefight asthma which was very effective

-- sold as inhalers under the name sold as inhalers under the name BenzedrineBenzedrine

-- it began to be prescribed to increase it began to be prescribed to increase work work capacity (doctor’s prescription only)capacity (doctor’s prescription only)

-- in the 1930’s is was dispensed to treat:in the 1930’s is was dispensed to treat:

depression and narcolepsydepression and narcolepsy

-- as well as an appetite suppressant and as well as an appetite suppressant and given to hyperactive childrengiven to hyperactive children

Amphetamines, contAmphetamines, cont3.3. PharmacologyPharmacology

-- can be administered by ingestion / can be administered by ingestion / injection / injection / snorting / and inhalationsnorting / and inhalation

4.4. OrallyOrally

-- produce peak effects in 2 to 3 hoursproduce peak effects in 2 to 3 hours

-- half-life: 10 to 12 hourshalf-life: 10 to 12 hours

-- not totally eliminated for about 2 daysnot totally eliminated for about 2 days

5.5. InjectedInjected effects are felt more quickly effects are felt more quickly

-- usually within 5 minutesusually within 5 minutes

6.6. BecauseBecause tolerance tolerance develops quickly develops quickly

Amphetamines, contAmphetamines, cont-- many users do not derive pleasure from many users do not derive pleasure from the the drugdrug-- so they increase their dosage so they increase their dosage -- or go on binges to maintain their highor go on binges to maintain their high

7.7. Methamphetamine is a stronger form of Methamphetamine is a stronger form of amphetaminesamphetamines-- injection is preferred to snortinginjection is preferred to snorting

8.8. SmokingSmoking meth has grown in popularity meth has grown in popularity-- crystals of meth (ice) are placed into a crystals of meth (ice) are placed into a glassglass bowl of a pipe bowl of a pipe-- heated from bottom / the vapors are heated from bottom / the vapors are inhaledinhaled

Amphetamines, contAmphetamines, cont9.9. Taken like this, the effects are felt in a few Taken like this, the effects are felt in a few

secondsseconds-- it increases the activity of the it increases the activity of the sympathetic sympathetic nervous systemnervous system

10.10.Physiological effectsPhysiological effects-- similar to people who are emotionally similar to people who are emotionally arousedaroused-- increased respiration and perspiration / increased respiration and perspiration / higher blood pressure / increase in body higher blood pressure / increase in body temperaturetemperature

11.11. Amphetamines are absorbed by the blood and Amphetamines are absorbed by the blood and distributed rapidlydistributed rapidly

Amphetamines, contAmphetamines, cont-- it stimulates the neurotransmitters: it stimulates the neurotransmitters: -- norepinephrinenorepinephrine: user feels more alert: user feels more alert-- dopaminedopamine: becomes euphoric / more : becomes euphoric / more activeactive

12.12.SnortingSnorting: effects occur within 10 to 15 : effects occur within 10 to 15 minutesminutes-- last up to 5 or 6 hourslast up to 5 or 6 hours

13.13. Removal from the bodyRemoval from the body (2 ways) (2 ways)-- excretedexcreted through the urine after being through the urine after being metabolized by liver enzymesmetabolized by liver enzymes-- deactivateddeactivated by the kidneys by adding by the kidneys by adding molecules to the amphetamine compoundmolecules to the amphetamine compound

Amphetamine TradeAmphetamine Trade1.1. Japan and Sweden have had far more abuse Japan and Sweden have had far more abuse

problems than the United Statesproblems than the United States

-- they banned its use, and now deal with they banned its use, and now deal with the the illicit drug tradeillicit drug trade

-- Poland is one of the largest producers for Poland is one of the largest producers for the European marketthe European market

2.2. Into the 1930s, one could legally obtain the Into the 1930s, one could legally obtain the drugs in the United Statesdrugs in the United States

-- they were used mainly by truck drivers they were used mainly by truck drivers and and college studentscollege students

-- truck stops served as distribution centerstruck stops served as distribution centers

Amphetamine trade, contAmphetamine trade, cont3.3. They were also easily obtained by prescriptionThey were also easily obtained by prescription

-- used to treat depression or obesityused to treat depression or obesity

-- hospitals administered amphetamines to hospitals administered amphetamines to people who overdosed on sleeping pillspeople who overdosed on sleeping pills

4.4. Because of this indiscriminate prescribingBecause of this indiscriminate prescribing

-- the federal government imposed the federal government imposed regulations regulations in 1965 to limit their usein 1965 to limit their use

-- in the 1970s they represented 8% of all in the 1970s they represented 8% of all prescriptionsprescriptions

Consequences of amphetamine Consequences of amphetamine useuse

1.1. Like cocaine, amphetamine use does not Like cocaine, amphetamine use does not produce classic withdrawal symptomsproduce classic withdrawal symptoms

-- but those who are dependent experience but those who are dependent experience a a type of withdrawaltype of withdrawal

2.2. With several days of moderate to heavy use, With several days of moderate to heavy use, individuals “individuals “crashcrash””

-- this is marked by symptoms opposite the this is marked by symptoms opposite the effects of amphetamines, such as effects of amphetamines, such as

lethargy / lethargy / exhaustion / depression / and exhaustion / depression / and hungerhunger

Consequences, contConsequences, cont3.3. Symptoms of withdrawal are undeniable, but Symptoms of withdrawal are undeniable, but

not life threateningnot life threatening-- within hours after one stops taking large within hours after one stops taking large dosesdoses-- energy levels decline / mood is altered / energy levels decline / mood is altered / and and sleep may follow for up to 24 hourssleep may follow for up to 24 hours-- upon waking, the user feels depressedupon waking, the user feels depressed

4.4. Stimulants can improve mental and physical Stimulants can improve mental and physical performanceperformance-- with simple tasks they are effectivewith simple tasks they are effective-- complex tasks, they are complex tasks, they are counterproductivecounterproductive

Consequences, contConsequences, cont5.5. ““Speed kills” was a popular slogan in the Speed kills” was a popular slogan in the

1960s1960s

-- it alluded to the consequences of taking it alluded to the consequences of taking amphetaminesamphetamines

-- a user can die from their risk-taking a user can die from their risk-taking behaviorbehavior

6.6. An example is an unhealthy life styleAn example is an unhealthy life style

-- one’s nutrition and health are neglectedone’s nutrition and health are neglected

-- few people die as a resultfew people die as a result

-- but it can cause an irregular heartbeat / but it can cause an irregular heartbeat / stoppage of the heart / or a strokestoppage of the heart / or a stroke

MethamphetamineMethamphetamine1.1. After WWII, meth (speed) began to be widely After WWII, meth (speed) began to be widely

abused in the United Statesabused in the United States-- today, over 20 million people have used today, over 20 million people have used meth at least oncemeth at least once-- it has been placed in Schedule 2 of the it has been placed in Schedule 2 of the Uniform Uniform Controlled Substances ActControlled Substances Act

2.2. It is a more potent version of amphetamine It is a more potent version of amphetamine used to treat narcolepsy / Parkinson’s / and to used to treat narcolepsy / Parkinson’s / and to suppress appetitesuppress appetite-- it is a powerful and addictive stimulate it is a powerful and addictive stimulate drugdrug-- it activates certain systems in the brain it activates certain systems in the brain that that are much greater than amphetaminesare much greater than amphetamines

Meth, contMeth, cont3.3. It is more likely to be used for nonmedical It is more likely to be used for nonmedical

purposespurposes-- such as ‘speed freaks’ going on binges such as ‘speed freaks’ going on binges -- shooting up every few hours over a 5 or shooting up every few hours over a 5 or 6 6 day period before crashingday period before crashing-- this is followed by sleep, which can last this is followed by sleep, which can last anywhere from 12 hours to 4 daysanywhere from 12 hours to 4 days

4.4. Between 2002 and 2005, there were over Between 2002 and 2005, there were over 3,000 deaths from meth use3,000 deaths from meth use-- last year, more than 10,000 people went last year, more than 10,000 people went totoemergency rooms as a result of meth useemergency rooms as a result of meth use

Meth, contMeth, cont3.3. Meth ranks 4Meth ranks 4thth among drugs causing death among drugs causing death

-- coming behind nicotine / alcohol / and coming behind nicotine / alcohol / and heroinheroin-- it is believed that it will soon pass heroinit is believed that it will soon pass heroin-- most deaths and ER visits occur in the most deaths and ER visits occur in the westwest

4.4. Besides clandestine labs in the United StatesBesides clandestine labs in the United States-- Mexico has become the major producerMexico has become the major producer-- DEA allocates $24 million for the DEA allocates $24 million for the trafficking trafficking / production / and abuse of / production / and abuse of methmeth-- the low cost of production contributes to the low cost of production contributes to its its rapidrapid growth growth

Meth, contMeth, cont-- along with a high that can last up to 14 hrsalong with a high that can last up to 14 hrs

5.5. Adverse effects:Adverse effects:

-- slurred speech / loss of appetite / excitement slurred speech / loss of appetite / excitement / / euphoria euphoria

-- increased blood pressure and heart rate / increased blood pressure and heart rate / chest pain / hot flasheschest pain / hot flashes

-- paranoia / hallucinations / and deathparanoia / hallucinations / and death

6.6. In the late 1970s, In the late 1970s, iceice entered the drug scene entered the drug scene

-- named for its crystal form (crystal meth)named for its crystal form (crystal meth)

-- swallowedswallowed: speed / crystal (: speed / crystal (YabaYaba – pill form) – pill form)

-- injectedinjected: crank: crank - - smokedsmoked: ice / glass: ice / glass