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Harm Reduction TO

Amphetamines & Methamphetamine

Also known As:

Speed, bennies, glass, crystal, crank, pep pills, uppers, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, crystal meth, and jib.

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What is it?

Amphetamines and Methamphetamine are a class of drug known as stimulants, that stimulate your central nervous system (CNS). They act like adrenaline, a hormone that is one of the body’s natural stimulants. They are inorganic, meaning they are processed from chemicals, and are not derived from organic plants.

How does it work?

Amphetamines stimulate the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, at a rate exponentially higher than that of other stimulant drugs (such as cocaine). The stimulating effects interact with multiple systems within the body, such as the central nervous, respiratory and digestive systems.

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What does it look like?

Pure amphetamines are white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powders. Illicitly prepared amphetamines vary in purity. They may be whitish with traces of gray or pink and may be a coarse powder, or in crystals or chunks. They may smell “fishy” or like ammonia. Methamphetamine resembles shaved glass slivers or clear rock salt.

Amphetamines are injected, smoked, sniffed or taken as pills (CAMH, 2011).

Is there a safe dose?

Under prohibition and when using illicit drugs, there is no safe dose because you do not know what the contents or potency of the drug are. Crystal meth is commonly cut with levamisole (a veterinary medicine that causes health and skin problems) and can be contaminated with other substances such as fentanyl (a dangerously strong opioid).

A dose (and safe dose) are dependent on the type of user, their experience with the drug and their specific biology, and the route of administration (smoking, snorting or injecting). Amphetamines (and specifically methamphetamine) have a very long half- life, producing a high that can last from 8-24 hours, and is very potent, so consuming one tenth (1/10 of a gram) could be considered a “safe dose” for a novice user snorting it, for example.

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Effects      

The desired effects of using amphetamines and methamphetamine are feelings of euphoria, alertness, increasing sociability, confidence and energy, and feelings of power and superiority (CAMH, 2011). 

Side effects and cautions

Amphetamines reduce hunger and increase breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Larger doses may cause fever, sweating, headache, nausea, blurred vision, very fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of co-ordination and collapse (CAMH, 2011).

Much of the harms related to amphetamine use refers to heavy rather than recreational use, and can often appear disproportionately represented in the literature.

Hydration, nutrition and hygiene:

  • Diminishing your food intake, eating only junk food and not sleeping can lead to malnutrition and dehydration; increase the risk of anxiety, paranoia and psychosis; decrease your high and cause you to need higher doses to achieve the same effects; and lead to an intensified crash.

  • Forgetting to drink water and brush teeth, eating sugary foods, and grinding teeth can lead to dry mucous membranes and make one more vulnerable to infections and dental problems.

(A Global Review of the Harm Reduction Response to Amphetamines: A 2015 Update)

Therapeutic Uses?

Amphetamines are prescribed to individuals with ADHD, which produces a calming effect and helps to diminish the inattentive/impulsive symptoms of this mental health challenge. It is also prescribed for those suffering from narcolepsy, to combat excessive daytime sleepiness.

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Harm Reduction Tips

to reduce the possible harms of amphetamines and Methamphetamine, the following is suggested by CAMH (2012);

  • Amphetamines and Methamphetamine causes dehydration so ensuring to drink plenty of water is crucial.

  • Heavy periods of use (binges) can deprive the user of consuming both food and water, so ensure to take breaks in between periods of use and consume food and water.

  • If you are using with other people, have your own personal needle, straws/dollar bill or pipe to use, and sterilize them before using them.

  • Methamphetamine binges can lead to sleep depravation and associated paranoia and delusions. If using, take breaks and get plenty of sleep.

Policy & Legal Implications

Amphetamines can be possessed legally if you have a prescription for them for ADHD or narcolepsy, but methamphetamines are not sold legally in Canada.

Amphetamines and Methamphetamine are classified under the “Controlled Substances and Drug Act” as Schedule I, meaning they are the most heavily regulated and carry the most severe criminal penalties for possession, trafficking and production.

It is often assumed that crystal meth is extremely dangerous because it destroys users bodies and hijacks their brains (Hart, 2013). However, crystal meth is chemically similar to other forms of methamphetamine that are used long-term to treat ADHD and other disorders, and which have not been shown to have similar side effects (Hart, 2013). Research has recently shown that it is actually not the crystal meth that is the main problem, but the extreme poverty and homelessness that meth users often face, which contributes to anxiety, fear, sleep deprivation, and poor hygiene, and causes the problems that are frequently associated with meth use (Hart, 2013).

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References

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2012). Amphetamines. Retrieved from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/amphetamines

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2012). Methamphetamines. Retrieved from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/methamphetamines

Hart, C. (2013). High price: A neuroscientist’s journey of self-discovery that challenges everything you know about drugs and society. New York, NY: Harper.