Amphetamines
Drug: Amphetamine
Street names: Speed, Whiz, Billy, Uppers, Sulphate,
Amph (Ice, Meth), phet
Similar drugs: Cocaine, Ecstasy
Drug type: Stimulant
Legal status: Amphetamine Sulphate (speed) is a
class B drug. If you're caught in possession of it, you could go to
prison for five years. The maximum sentence for dealing is 14
years, plus an unlimited fine.
If amphetamine is prepared for injection when you're caught with
it, it's considered to be a class A drug. That means you could go
to prison for seven years for possessing it and for life for
dealing it, plus an unlimited fine.
What is it?
Amphetamine is a man-made drug. It
usually comes as a white, grey, yellow or pink powder, but
sometimes in tablets too.
Methamphetamine is a stronger form of the drug and may come as a
powder, tablet or in crystals known as 'ice'. Methamphetamine is a
class A drug. Another form of the drug, base amphetamine, is a
putty-like substance.
Powdered amphetamine can be snorted, swallowed, mixed into
drinks or prepared for injection. Base amphetamine is usually
swallowed in wraps called 'bombs', while crystals are normally
smoked.
How it can make you feel: Amphetamine can increase
your heart and breathing rate and body temperature. It can also
make you feel alert, energetic, confident, increase your stamina
and suppress your appetite. Your pupils may become dilated too.
These effects usually last for around four to eight hours.
The risks: You can start feeling anxious,
irritable, paranoid, aggressive and restless, especially during
'come downs' from amphetamine. The drug can also make you lose
weight and cause insomnia, heart and blood pressure problems.
Amphetamine image courtesy of Talk to Frank, Crown
Copyright.
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