During the Second World War, a class of compounds known as amphetamines was extensively used to increase alertness, induce euphoria and decrease general fatigue in soldiers on both the sides. Today, we all know that more than any other illegal drug, amphetamines are linked to violent and anti-social behavior. Well, the 60 million odd deaths in the war should have been an indication as strong as any. Amphetamines are a group of drugs that help in speeding up the messages between the brain and the body, temporarily increasing energy. Although the first synthetic amphetamine was developed as early as 1887 in Berlin, it was not put to any sort of medical use before the 1930s, when it was marketed as a decongestant known as the Benzedrine Inhaler. And with this, began the trend of widespread amphetamine abuse across the globe.
Amphetamine drugs are usually prescribed for conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and narcolepsy, a condition which induces an uncontrollable urge to sleep. In the US, these drugs are classified as a Schedule II drug, which means that even though they are legal, they certainly aren’t your run of the mill over-the-counter drugs and are carefully regulated. But, since these drugs have an extremely high potential for addiction, they are illegally abused in the western world, particularly in the western United States, Australasia, and Europe. Also known as speed, fast, up, uppers, louee, goey and whiz, these drugs induce a sense of self-induced euphoria which generally lasts several hours. However, once the euphoric effect starts to wear out, what follows is a period riddled with intense mental depression and fatigue.

Structurally, amphetamines are related to the human body’s fight-or-flight hormone, adrenaline. They induce similar responses in the brain, but their side effects are much more ghastly, and it is safe to say that despite the popular appeal of some of their effects, their negative effects simply outweigh them.
Amphetamines are available in a variety of forms, viz. powder, tablets, capsules or crystals, or even packaged in aluminum foils, plastic bags or small balloons. Hence, they can be consumed in a number of ways like swallowing, injecting, smoking or snorting. When taken orally, the effects generally kick in after an hour or so, while intravenous use guarantees the onset of symptoms within 5 minutes. The urge to use amphetamines differs from person to person as do their effects. Some take these stimulants to forget their worldly troubles and have a carefree euphoric night, while others use them in order to stay up all night to boost their grades. However, like all other drugs, their effects vary on different people depending on their size, weight and health, as well as whether the person is used to taking the drug. And of course, it goes without saying that the amount of amphetamines one takes is a big contributing factor on the kind of ‘high’ one experiences. In fact, recent researches have established a correlation between the user’s races as well risk taking ability and other personality traits and his or her responses to amphetamine use.

Typically, a general response to amphetamine use involves feelings of euphoria, sense of superiority, increased sex drive, faster reaction times, increased alertness and a decreased urge to sleep. In addition, the person feels as if he can take on the world single handedly. However, as promising and dreamy these effects might sound, one must remember amphetamine response follows a yin-yang pattern. The other, less rewarding effects of amphetamine use are paranoia, headaches, dizziness, stomach cramps, chest pain, itching and scratching to name a few. In fact, an overdose of amphetamines can even lead to hallucinations, seizures and even strokes, causing the user to slip into a coma. Other than these, amphetamines also result in a general loss of appetite, although that might not be the best way to reduce weight.
Prolonged use of amphetamines can cause a heavy dependence on these drugs, as they are highly addictive. Long term usage of these drugs is extremely hazardous to one’s physical, mental and emotional health. Long term side effects of amphetamine use range from chronic sleeping problems, malnutrition and drastic weight loss to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, reduced immunity and an increased risk of infections. In addition, people who abuse amphetamines for a long period of time are known to clench their jaw and grind their teeth. These habits result in major dental problems like cracked teeth, dry mouth along with a poor dental hygiene. Irregularities in the cardiovascular functions put one at an elevated risk of developing heart related complications like heart attack and even heart failure. However, the most stark and apparent side effect of prolonged amphetamine abuse is the tremendous deterioration it brings about in one’s physical appearance over time. Within a few years of regular speed abuse, users are reduced a mere shadow of their former selves.
The above mentioned behavioral effects are achieved by the amphetamines through the modulation of several key neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. But, the effect of the drugs is quite specific i.e. limited to certain regions of the brain. Hence, certain receptors do not respond to amphetamines in certain areas of the brain, while they do so in other regions. The major targets of the amphetamines are the neurotransmitters that are involved in the brain’s reward pathways. So, quite naturally, the primary sites of action for the drugs are the anatomical components of the pathways, particularly the striatum, the nucleus accumbens and the ventral striatum. Even though the amphetamines have several molecules of a similar structure found in the brain, known as endogenous analogues, their effect and activities are much more diluted and sublime.
Illegally, amphetamines are made in clandestine back-door laboratories across the western world. Needless to say, these labs certainly do not conform to the hygiene standards or safety codes set by FDA or any other government agency for that matter. That in itself increases the risk of taking these drugs, as more often than not, they are just a crude manufacture and run a high risk of causing overdose in the users. In addition, many users mix amphetamines with other stimulants like cocaine or ecstasy. Such a mixture not only increases the high manifold, but also places an enormous amount of stress on the cardiovascular system, which can lead to a stroke.
While the safest way to avoid the amphetamine menace would simply be not using the drugs ever, but if one has made the thrilling mistake of going down this road, he would find that kicking this habit is not exactly a walk in the park either. Like most other drugs, once a person stops using amphetamines, he typically experiences certain withdrawal symptoms. The most common and probably the most crippling withdrawal symptom associated with the cessation of amphetamine abuse is the uncontrollable craving for the drugs. At that point, the drug becomes the most important factor in the person’s life and takes precedence over all other activities. This phenomenon is best exhibited in the case of famous mathematician Paul Erdos who once abstained from the drug for a month, but later complained that this abstinence had affected his work and that in the absence of the drug he could not work. During this period, the user feels confused and lacks the ability to concentrate properly along with decreased energy levels and apathy. The dependence on the drugs causes the person to become depressed, anxious, paranoid and easily irritated. The body has to work hard to get used to functioning without the amphetamines in this phase and hence, the person experiences extreme fatigue and exhaustion, increased appetite and a disturbed sleep cycle that is constantly disturbed by nightmares.

Other than being used as a prescription drug and being abused as a recreational one, amphetamine mixtures are also used for performance-enhancement, particularly by high school students in the United States. Many students take an amphetamine mixture called Adderall to stay awake and study for longer periods of time, as it increases energy levels, concentration and enhances motivation. Some professional and semi-professional athletes also take amphetamines due to its strong stimulating effect even though recent studies have suggested that its effect is barely measurable. In fact, the combination of amphetamine use and rigorous physical activity can be quite fatal as British cyclist Tom Simpson quite unfortunately found out. Simpson died of exhaustion during the 1967 Tour de France and it was later found that he had consumed amphetamines mixed with alcohol prior to the race.
Across the globe, amphetamines are still not perceived as the grave threat to physical and mental health that they are. They have been known to induce hallucinations and even psychosis in certain cases. They can lead healthy men and women to a miserable life of drug dependence, physical and psychological trauma. Although several experts list them as one of the 10 most addictive and harmful drugs in the world, amphetamines – barring the notable exception of methamphetamine – aren’t considered a serious threat. The worst aspect of amphetamine addiction is that in most cases the addicts they have complete control over their addiction which is in reality far from the truth. Those who regard amphetamines as a harmless stimulant should note that from 1942, Adolf Hitler was receiving daily injections of methamphetamine and experts believe that these injections would have seriously compromised his judgment and made him more prone to violence, probably acting as a catalyst to the worst genocide of the 20th century.