Drugs and Our Society Amphetamines Part 8

Amphetamines 1. Amphetamines have played an important role in our society since first being marketed in it was given to American soldiers during WWII to fight fatigue / heighten mood / and increase endurance -they do produce side effects which was discovered in combat -Hitler’s bizarre behavior towards the end of the war was caused by amphetamine use

Amphetamines, cont 2. History -first used as a nasal decongestant and to fight asthma which was very effective -sold as inhalers under the name Benzedrine -it began to be prescribed to increase work capacity (doctor’s prescription only) -in the 1930’s is was dispensed to treat: depression and narcolepsy -as well as an appetite suppressant and given to hyperactive children

Amphetamines, cont 3. Pharmacology -can be administered by ingestion / injection / snorting / and inhalation 4. Orally -produce peak effects in 2 to 3 hours -half-life: 10 to 12 hours -not totally eliminated for about 2 days 5. Injected effects are felt more quickly -usually within 5 minutes 6. Because tolerance develops quickly

Amphetamines, cont -many users do not derive pleasure from the drug -so they increase their dosage -or go on binges to maintain their high 7. Methamphetamine is a stronger form of amphetamines -injection is preferred to snorting 8. Smoking meth has grown in popularity -crystals of meth (ice) are placed into a glass bowl of a pipe -heated from bottom / the vapors are inhaled

Amphetamines, cont 9. Taken like this, the effects are felt in a few seconds -it increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system 10. Physiological effects -similar to people who are emotionally aroused -increased respiration and perspiration / higher blood pressure / increase in body temperature 11.Amphetamines are absorbed by the blood and distributed rapidly

Amphetamines, cont -it stimulates the neurotransmitters: -norepinephrine: user feels more alert -dopamine: becomes euphoric / more active 12. Snorting: effects occur within 10 to 15 minutes -last up to 5 or 6 hours 13.Removal from the body (2 ways) -excreted through the urine after being metabolized by liver enzymes -deactivated by the kidneys by adding molecules to the amphetamine compound

Amphetamine Trade 1.Japan and Sweden have had far more abuse problems than the United States -they banned its use, and now deal with the illicit drug trade -Poland is one of the largest producers for the European market 2.Into the 1930s, one could legally obtain the drugs in the United States -they were used mainly by truck drivers and college students -truck stops served as distribution centers

Amphetamine trade, cont 3. They were also easily obtained by prescription -used to treat depression or obesity -hospitals administered amphetamines to people who overdosed on sleeping pills 4. Because of this indiscriminate prescribing -the federal government imposed regulations in 1965 to limit their use -in the 1970s they represented 8% of all prescriptions

Consequences of amphetamine use 1.Like cocaine, amphetamine use does not produce classic withdrawal symptoms -but those who are dependent experience a type of withdrawal 2. With several days of moderate to heavy use, individuals “crash” -this is marked by symptoms opposite the effects of amphetamines, such as lethargy / exhaustion / depression / and hunger

Consequences, cont 3. Symptoms of withdrawal are undeniable, but not life threatening -within hours after one stops taking large doses -energy levels decline / mood is altered / and sleep may follow for up to 24 hours -upon waking, the user feels depressed 4. Stimulants can improve mental and physical performance -with simple tasks they are effective -complex tasks, they are counterproductive

Consequences, cont 5. “Speed kills” was a popular slogan in the 1960s -it alluded to the consequences of taking amphetamines -a user can die from their risk-taking behavior 6. An example is an unhealthy life style -one’s nutrition and health are neglected -few people die as a result -but it can cause an irregular heartbeat / stoppage of the heart / or a stroke

Methamphetamine 1. After WWII, meth (speed) began to be widely abused in the United States -today, over 20 million people have used meth at least once -it has been placed in Schedule 2 of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act 2.It is a more potent version of amphetamine used to treat narcolepsy / Parkinson’s / and to suppress appetite -it is a powerful and addictive stimulate drug -it activates certain systems in the brain that are much greater than amphetamines

Meth, cont 3. It is more likely to be used for nonmedical purposes -such as ‘speed freaks’ going on binges -shooting up every few hours over a 5 or 6 day period before crashing -this is followed by sleep, which can last anywhere from 12 hours to 4 days 4. Between 2002 and 2005, there were over 3,000 deaths from meth use -last year, more than 10,000 people went to emergency rooms as a result of meth use

Meth, cont 3. Meth ranks 4 th among drugs causing death -coming behind nicotine / alcohol / and heroin -it is believed that it will soon pass heroin -most deaths and ER visits occur in the west 4. Besides clandestine labs in the United States -Mexico has become the major producer -DEA allocates $24 million for the trafficking / production / and abuse of meth -the low cost of production contributes to its rapid growth

Meth, cont -along with a high that can last up to 14 hrs 5. Adverse effects: -slurred speech / loss of appetite / excitement / euphoria -increased blood pressure and heart rate / chest pain / hot flashes -paranoia / hallucinations / and death 6. In the late 1970s, ice entered the drug scene -named for its crystal form (crystal meth) -swallowed: speed / crystal (Yaba – pill form) -injected: crank- smoked: ice / glass