What is it
Man-made stimulant drugs that can come as a tablet or a white/grey/yellowish or pinky powder, often sold in a paper wrap. In the past they were prescribed a lot by doctors as medicines. This has lessened in recent years.
Street names
Names are mainly speed and whiz but also amphet, billy, billy whiz, sulph, sulphate, uppers and wake ups.
How they are taken
Tablets are swallowed. The powder form can be swallowed in a 'wrap' or mixed with a drink, snorted up the nose or prepared for injection.
Extent of use
After cannabis it is probably the most commonly used illegal drug in the UK. Surveys have found between 7% and 18% of 15/16 year olds and about 25% of 20 to 29 year olds claiming to have used it at least once.
Effects of use
- Stimulant drugs that make people feel more alert, awake, energetic and confident.
- People often become very talkative and some may become anxious, irritable and aggressive.
- With high doses people sweat a lot, clench their jaw, grind their teeth and feel their heart racing.
- Taking a lot may produce mood swings and make people feel panicked and paranoid.
- Effects of taking a single dose can last for 3 to 4 hours, but longer if more is taken or it is snorted or injected.
- As the effects wear off people often feel run down, anxious, irritable and restless. They may need sleep and rest to recover.
Risks of use
- Regular use can lead to dependence. User may become depressed and feel lacking in energy when not taking the drug. They may keep taking it to avoid these feelings.
- Regular use may lead to tolerance so more is needed to get the desired effect.
- Regular use often leads to lack of sleep, loss of appetite and lowers resistance to infections. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, may become a problem, especially among women.
- Heavy use can lead to feeling up, then feeling very down and depressed. Feeling 'wired', panic attacks and paranoia may follow.
- They can be particularly dangerous to people who have heart or blood pressure problems.
- It may be difficult to know exactly what or how much is being taken, because amphetamines are often 'cut' with all sorts of other things.
- Regular snorting can damage the nasal passages.
- Injecting can be very dangerous, especially because of the other things that may be mixed with it. Sharing of injecting equipment can lead to transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C.
The Law
It is an offence to be in possession of amphetamines without a doctor's prescription for them. It is also an offence to supply them to other people. They are Class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and become Class A drugs if injected.
