what are they?

AMPHETAMINES are stimulant drugs which act on the central nervous system. Although prescribed in the past for slimming purposes, doctors now feel there are few reasons to prescribe them, because of the side effects from long term use.

what does it look like?

MOST illicit amphetamine is amphetamine sulphate. This comes in the form of a powder which is usually a dull white, but may sometimes be other colours such as pink. It's usually sold in small paper packets called 'wraps' or €˜bags€™. A stronger form of Amphetamine is also available, known as Base.

what are the effects?

IN general your whole nervous system is excited and speeded up. This produces an increase in heart rate and breathing, and in the size of your pupils. Hands may become sweaty as the body heats up, and you lose your appetite. Generally you feel energetic, alert and talkative.

is it addictive?

TOLERANCE can build up, so that more has to be taken to produce the same effect. You could find that you take the drug more frequently in order to avoid, at least temporarily, the "come down" in which you feel tired and depressed. This, together with feeling more able to cope when taking it, can lead a small number of people to find it hard to do without the drug. Even if taking the drug frequently the withdrawal problems are not so much physical, but more that sometimes, you feel severely depressed, tired, and lethargic.

how is it used?

THE commonest ways of using amphetamine sulphate are either to eat it or to snort (sniff) it up the nose. It can also be dissolved in water and injected. Purity levels are on average very low, there is an added risk from the impurities when they are injected.

are there side effects?

OFTEN the day after using, you feel generally washed out. If there's been a run of several days use, this may be more severe. When frequently used, lack of sleep and not eating properly may lead to the problems associated with being generally run down. Long term use can lead to swings in mood from confident to anxious, happy to irritable. In its most extreme form this can lead to amphetamine psychosis in which you become paranoid and believe that others are persecuting you.

HIV/AIDS

WHERE amphetamine is injected and syringes shared, there is a risk of infection with HIV (which can lead to AIDS) and hepatitis. These can be transmitted through sharing blood contaminated syringes, needles spoons and filters.

People who are infected with these viruses usually appear healthy, and may not develop the disease for years. From the moment someone is infected however, they carry the virus in their blood, and can infect others through sexual intercourse and sharing injecting equipment. Those who inject can protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and hepatitis by using clean equipment, obtainable from needle exchanges and some chemists, and not sharing with anyone else.

legal position

AMPHETAMINE is a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. However if it is prepared for injection it moves up the scale to become Class A. Possession, supply and production are illegal. Penalties vary according to individual circumstances and local policies.

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