Amphetamines
What are Amphetamines?
Amphetamines are stimulants that speed up the body’s system. Some are legally prescribed and used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
What is their origin?
Amphetamines were first marketed in the 1930s as Benzedrine in an over-the-counter inhaler to treat nasal congestion. By 1937 amphetamines were available by prescription in tablet form and were used in the treatment of the sleeping disorder narcolepsy and ADHD. Over the years, the use and abuse of clandestinely produced amphetamines have spread. Today, clandestine laboratory production of amphetamines has mushroomed, and the abuse of the drug has increased dramatically.
What are common street names?
Common street names include Bennies, Black Beauties, Crank, Ice, Speed, and Uppers
What do they look like?
Amphetamines can look like pills or powder. Common prescription amphetamines include amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall®), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), lisdexamphetamine (Vyvanse™) and methamphetamine (Desoxyn®).
How are they abused?
Amphetamines are generally taken orally or injected. However, the addition of “ice,” the slang name of crystallized methamphetamine hydrochloride, has promoted smoking as another mode of administration. Just as “crack” is smokable cocaine, “ice” is smokable methamphetamine.
What is their effect on the mind?
The effects of amphetamines are similar to cocaine, but their onset is slower and their duration is longer. In contrast to cocaine, which is quickly removed from the brain and is almost completely metabolized, methamphetamine remains in the central nervous system longer, and a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body, producing prolonged stimulant effects. Chronic abuse produces a psychosis that resembles schizophrenia and is characterized by paranoia, picking at the skin, preoccupation with one’s own thoughts, and auditory and visual hallucinations. Violent and erratic behavior is frequently seen among chronic users of amphetamines.
What is their effect on the body?
Physical effects of amphetamine use include increased blood pressure and pulse rates, insomnia, loss of appetite, and physical exhaustion
What are their overdose effects?
Overdose effects include agitation, increased body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions, and possible death
Which drugs cause similar effects?
Drugs that cause similar effects include Dexmethylphendiate, phendimetrazine, cocaine, crack, and khat.
What is their legal status in the United States? Many amphetamines are Schedule II stimulants, which means that they have a high potential for abuse and a currently acceptable medical use (in FDA-approved products). Pharmaceutical products are available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled.
Testing for Amphetamines
Amphetamines are included in the standard 5-panel drug test that is most commonly used by employers and others. More in-depth tests like 10 or 12-panel tests will also include amphetamines. How long amphetamines remain in the system will depend on several factors including metabolism, age, frequency and amount of use, size and weight, and other things. Additionally, the type of drug test used will also impact the length of time that the drugs can be detected.
In a standard urine test, the drug can be detected for between 1 and 3 days following the last use. Since amphetamines break down in the urine stream, they are present there longer than in blood, and blood tests will only detect the presence of amphetamines for between 10 and 12 hours after the last use of the drug – longer in cases of heavy, chronic users. A blood drug test is very expensive. Sweat patches are a less invasive means of specimen collection than blood testing and circumvent the privacy issues of urine collection. Hair tests can detect Amphetamines for up to 90 days after the last use of the drug.