Drugs what is speed

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Always follow the dosage information provided by your pharmacist and doctor. Amphetamines can sometimes cause side effects or reactions beyond their prescribed uses. Such side effects are why people sometimes misuse these medications. For example, athletes and others like speed because it increases their energy and stamina. Along with the increased energy, amphetamines prevent the normal phases of drowsiness and sleep. This is one of the reasons speed is popular among people who need to stay awake when they would normally be asleep, such as night-shift workers and long-haul truck drivers.

It's also appealing to partygoers who want to stay awake or alert at night for recreational reasons, such as dancing at clubs or raves into the early morning hours. Frequent misuse of amphetamines or amphetamine-like drugs can result in severe sleep deprivation.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, sleep deprivation can have effects on the body's dopamine receptors that can increase impulsivity and drug use. Unfortunately, the interference with sleep can become problematic when you use amphetamines for an extended period of time and during the hours when you would normally sleep.

Students sometimes use speed to cram for exams. Despite its ability to increase energy and focus, amphetamines have a complex effect on cognitive processing and can actually cause a deterioration in mental performance. Sleep plays a critical role in the consolidation of memories, so sleep deprivation can have a detrimental impact on the ability to learn and form new memories. Pressured speech , or a tendency to speak in a rapid-fire speech pattern, can sometimes be a symptom of a mental health condition such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

However, it is also often associated with the use of certain drugs, including amphetamines. While amphetamine users often believe speed improves their social and mental functioning, research shows amphetamines speed up speech at the expense of accuracy. At times, people who are high on amphetamines can be socially annoying. They may chatter incessantly and have trouble engaging in normal conversation because they can't listen to others. Perhaps the most compelling reason people give for taking amphetamines is the temporarily elevated mood they often experience.

The flip side of this good mood is that coming down often causes a "crash" and an increase of depressive feelings, so amphetamines are not a good solution if you're already feeling down.

Amphetamines can sometimes lead to chronic fatigue and paranoid or delusional thinking. Misuse of these drugs can also lead to amphetamine-induced psychosis, especially when they are misused for long periods or at high doses. Prescription amphetamines usually come as a pill. Illegal amphetamines may also come as powders, crystals, or liquid. Abuse of amphetamines can include ingesting them in a variety of ways, including:.

Of these, nearly , were between the ages of 12 and When amphetamines are taken for longer or in higher doses than intended, it increases the risk of addiction. Over time, your body may become tolerant to the drug, which means that you'll need higher doses to achieve the same effect.

Error: This is required. Error: Not a valid value. Speed is a type of amphetamine. It is a central nervous system stimulant which causes high levels of dopamine to be released. Dopamine is a brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward.

There are different types of amphetamines. Some are prescribed by doctors to treat medical conditions such as narcolepsy an uncontrollable urge to sleep or ADHD. Others, including speed, are produced and sold illegally. Other forms of illicit amphetamine are base and crystal meth ice — the most potent form.

Speed powder can range in colour from white to brown and may contain traces of grey or pink. It has a strong smell and bitter taste. It can also come as pills. It can be swallowed, injected, smoked or snorted. The effects of speed are felt immediately if the drug is injected or smoked, or within half an hour if snorted or swallowed.

They last up to 6 hours, depending on the dose. They may have an energy boost, feel more alert and be more talkative. Coming down can take days. Find out more about how drugs and alcohol can impact your health , including where to find help and support. It is possible to overdose on speed if you have a large amount or a strong dose. The signs of an overdose are:.

An overdose can lead to stroke, heart attack or death. If you think someone has overdosed on speed, call triple zero for an ambulance. High doses and frequent use of speed can create amphetamine or speed psychosis. There are lots of mental health issues linked to using speed. Most of them are associated with coming down after taking speed, or long-term use.

They include:. People who take speed for long periods can lose weight, get heart and kidney problems , develop dental problems, have a stroke and increase their risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis infections. Sometimes heavy users develop psychosis that usually goes away when they stop taking the drug. As well as physical and mental health issues , users risk social, work and financial problems.

Regular use of speed can be expensive, and have a negative impact on work and relationships. Taking speed with alcohol can increase heart rate and blood pressure.