Speed, Amphetamine, Uppers, Ice, Crystal Meth
What it is.
Speed is a stimulant. These drugs speed you up. They can be swallowed as tablets, ‘snorted’ through the nose as a powder or injected in liquid form. Some amphetamines are prescribed by the doctor for medical problems. Amphetamines sold on the street are illegal, even if they have been previously prescribed. Speed affects the way you think, feel and behave. It also affects your body. Effects can come on straight away or take longer depending on how you have taken it. The effects last from four to eight hours. If you get very bad thoughts or feelings, these can last from a few hours to many weeks.
Short-term effects
- Feel happy and brave, and you think you are really deadly. This can lead to making poor choices and doing things you wouldn’t normally do (e.g. have unsafe sex, drive dangerously, break the law).
- You have lots of energy and your heart beats faster and you get really big eyes because your pupils dilate.
- You talk a lot. Some people might think you are talking too much.
- You stop eating because you do not feel hungry and you may get stomach cramps.
- Feel hot and sweaty or hot and cold.
- You may feel worried (anxious), restless, fearful, suspicious, jealous, violent and angry.
- You may see and hear things that aren’t there and your thoughts can become muddled up.
- Sleeping is difficult, sometimes people stay up all night and all of the next day.
- Speed can increase your blood pressure and this could cause heart problems or stroke (a bleed in the brain).
Long-term effects
If you use speed regularly or binge heavily you may develop some or all of the following problems.
- You may have mood swings, feel sad or depressed, mixed up, worried or become angry with no warning. Your family and friends might be worried for you and frightened of you. They may start to see you as dangerous or strange.
- Get really skinny.
- Get sick very easily because your body is run down.
- You may have strange thoughts and your thinking can become tangled and unclear.
- You may get paranoid (fearful, jealous and suspicious). When someone gets paranoid they may think people are after them. Some people become psychotic. They may see or hear things that aren’t there.
- Speed may cause you to have a stroke (a bleed in the brain) or a heart attack and this can cause long-term health problems or even death.
- Speed costs lots of money and this can put pressure on families.
Reducing harm
- It’s best not to use speed.
- If you have used speed, have a trusted family member or friend around and stay in a safe place.
- Don’t mix with other drugs, this can lead to overdose.
- Never drive if you've been using speed.
- Drink water to replace fluid you lose from sweating.
- Eat lots of healthy food to help your body stay strong.
- Using speed is not an excuse for having unsafe sex – always use a condom.
- Speed use can affect your family and community, not only while you’re using, but also when you come down.
- If injecting speed, always use a clean syringe and injecting gear such as spoon, swab and water.
- Never share equipment.
- Injecting speed is very risky.
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