What is speed drug

Speed Drug – Symptoms, Dangers, and Treatment of Addiction

Last Updated: February 23, 2021

Speed drug is an illicit substance that belongs to a group of stimulant drugs known as amphetamines. It is purely a drug of abuse and has no medical function, unlike many others. The addictive potential of this substance is rather high as well.

Addiction to speed drug presents in a specific way, and this article’s information will discuss more on the signs, adverse effects, and how to treat an individual with an addiction to this street drug.

An Overview on Speed Drug

Speed drug is a white or off-white powder, which can be administered by inhalation, ingestion, or injection. It is an illicit substance and speed class of control is a Schedule II controlled substance, as classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, same as all amphetamines.

Addicts who use the drug tend to the substance that is produced in illegal laboratories. These kinds of drugs can be impure and laced with other substances which can have long-term side effects.

Many people who use the drug have associated mental illnesses. These can include mood disorders, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and alcoholism.

Chronic use of this drug can result in significant alterations to the brain on the molecular level. Several structural changes and neurotoxic effects have been observed following chronic abuse of amphetamines like this one.

Speed Half-Life

This drug has a half-life of about 4 to 5 hours. Its breakdown occurs in the liver, and it is excreted from the body primarily through the urine. In the first 24 hours after it is orally ingested, more than 60% of it is excreted.

Speed Addiction

This drug increases the amount of dopamine in certain pathways in the brain, which produces sensations that get the user wanting more, and eventually establishing addiction to the substance. Speed drug can also be mixed with other illicit substances to potentiate its effects, which makes this substance even more dangerous to consume.

Signs of Speed Addiction

In a person who has used this drug long enough and developed an addiction, there are several ways that it can impact their life physically, mentally, and socially.

Physical Changes

An addict may begin to have noticeable physical signs when addicted to this substance.
They May Complain of the Following Symptoms:

Weight Loss

Amphetamines, including speed drug, have been used at times purely for the effect they have towards achieving weight loss. Stimulants cause noticeable weight loss when abused. Unfortunately, this serves on many occasions as the gateway by which some individuals get addicted to the substance.

Psychological and Behavioral Changes

The changes that chronic use of this drug has on the brain can result in some changes in the behavior and mental state of the addict. There may seem to be no reasonable cause for the demonstrations of these behaviors, and they can worsen as the addiction continues. These behaviors are even more prominent following the administration of high doses or binges.
These Include Some of the Following:

Financial Problems

In the presence of some of these other signs, addiction should be suspected when a family member or friend is frequently requesting money. They put all their resources into fueling the habit. When they request money at a frequency that can not be explained by the information available, there is a high chance of addiction to a substance.

Changes in Social Behavior

A person addicted to this substance may show changes in their behavior in social situations.
These Can Include Some of the Following:

When it comes to the signs that addiction may produce in an individual, it is important to know that personal factors can change exactly how addiction can be manifested or noticed. Each addict is different, so there may be signs seen which are not included here.

However, it is best to be safe and contact an addiction counselor for information if there is a suspicion of any abnormal behavior thought to be related to drug dependence.

Side Effects of Speed

This drug has an intended effect on the people who abuse it. However, it has several other side effects that are not wanted but come with its use. The side effects of speed drug can be physical or psychological. These can be very serious at their worst, and can even cause death.
Some of the Side Effects of Chronic Effect Include the Following:

Large doses of it can cause irreversible damage, which emphasizes the importance of getting help as soon as possible.

As a result, psychiatric symptoms can last for years, even after a person has stopped using the drug.

These symptoms consist of things like psychotic episodes in which the user suffers from delusions, severe agitation, or uncontrollable panic attacks.

Speed Overdose

There are almost 36 million users of amphetamines every year, which includes speed. Of these, it is estimated that half a million use speed drug every week. With such a large number of users, the chance of an overdose is not uncommon. Most users tend to recover from an overdose on speed, but the potential for fatality is still present.

Symptoms of Overdose

Overdose can present with some of the following symptoms:

Overdose can be confirmed by screening for amphetamines in the urine of the individual.

First Aid for Suspected Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact emergency services immediately and once this is done, the following first aid steps can be taken:

Dangers of Addiction to Speed

Addiction to speed can lead to chronic, irreversible health conditions. Individuals who inject these drugs tend to share their paraphernalia, which predisposes to infectious diseases like hepatitis B and C, and HIV. The effects of the drug on the brain and other organs demonstrate how deadly addiction can be.

Overdosing and Side Effects of Speed

An individual who is addicted to this substance may develop tolerance, which means they need to take increasing amounts of the drug to chase the same effect they have always had. These amounts can climb to dangerous levels which can cause an overdose.

This is dangerous as death may ensue due to the complications, which include breathing difficulties or heart disorders. It is almost like an exacerbation of the substance’s side effects.

Criminal Charges

There is little information to directly link this substance and criminal behavior. The effects that addiction speed can have can produce behavioral changes such as violent or aggressive behavior. For an addict on the search for the resources to fuel their habit, this can lead to criminal behavior.

Infectious Diseases

Injection of the substance can predispose to the transmission of infectious blood-borne diseases from addict to addict, via unsterilized needles. This includes HIV, which can lead to AIDS and worsen the health condition of the individual, with the possibility of death.

Gateway to Worse Addictions

A major fraction of addicts use this speed drug as a gateway drug for other addictions. A study showed amphetamines in general to be the second most used drug of abuse among younger people. From this point, many of them move to other drugs. This demonstrates why curbing the habit at its earliest is best.

Permanent Brain Damage

It is notorious for causing permanent injuries to the blood vessels in the brain. This is one of the worst side effects of speed. As a result, it may cause a stroke. Quality of life following a stroke is impaired due to the high chance of disability, and death may also occur.

Treatment of Addiction to Speed

Treating an addiction to speed drug requires going through detox. This process can be difficult due to the withdrawal symptoms that occur, but with a treatment center, these symptoms can be managed through medically supervised detox. This is the recommended way of treating addiction, as it is safer than cold-turkey detox. This will be paired with cognitive-behavioral therapy for the highest effectiveness.
This detox will be conducted in a specialist center staffed by trained medical personnel, who will monitor the patient to ensure they are in no danger and help on the road to recovery. An outpatient rehab is an option, but inpatient rehab has the resources to ensure that patients receive 24-hour supervision and care as speed clears from their system.

Detox takes care of the withdrawal symptoms, but that is not the end of treatment.

The patient will require different kinds of therapy, such as family therapy, counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to repair the damage that addiction has caused in their daily life.

When used chronically, speed can cause irreversible damage. Furthermore, psychiatric symptoms can persist for years, even after successful detoxification. Some studies show that dopamine levels can take over a year to return to normal levels.
Speed drug can be a very dangerous drug as it has its risks, and can also serve as a gateway to other illicit substances. Abuse of the drug can lead to severe side effects of speed, and even death, so quitting the drug, or not abstaining completely from it is the best line of action.
It is important to recognize that a speed addiction should be managed at a professional treatment center, to enable the addict to receive the best care in their search for better health.

What is speed drug

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What Is Speed Or Uppers?

So what is speed? “Speed” is a street name for various stimulant drugs that teens, young adults and others use to feel more alert and focused, and in some cases, to feel high.

Some people also use various forms of speed to reduce their appetite. Types of speed include:

Methamphetamine is much more potent and faster-acting than amphetamine, but both types of drugs involve serious risks.

Unfortunately, many teens and young adults take speed in the form of amphetamine pills without a prescription in order to improve their performance in academics, sports, and other areas.

Both types of speed are also taken recreationally, often mixed with other drugs. Despite the sought-after, short-term effects of some forms of speed, all forms of speed are dangerous and addictive.

How Do Young People Use Speed?

Prescription drugs used as speed include:

Speed goes by street names such as:

Street names for methamphetamine include:

What Are the Risks Of Using Speed?

Speed makes the central nervous system more active than normal, increasing alertness, sensory perception and mood. When the effects wear off, users feel exhausted or depressed. As a result, they often feel a strong craving for more. This cycle can lead to physical tolerance, physical or psychological dependence and addiction.

The short-term effects of speed that users seek include:

However, the side effects of these drugs far outweigh the benefits. These include:

Long-term health risks of speed include:

Methamphetamine is especially addictive and dangerous. Meth can cause permanent brain damage, especially to the areas of the brain that manage emotions and memory. Other long-term effects of meth use are:

Why Do Young People Start Using Uppers?

Young people who want to improve their academic or sports performance tend to take Adderall and other prescription stimulants by simply swallowing them in their pill form. People who use speed recreationally tend to crush the pills and snort the powder, causing a more intense but shorter-lasting high. Meth can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed.

What Are The Symptoms Of Speed Abuse?

If you’re worried that your child might be using speed, here are some warning signs to watch for:

Why Are Methamphetamines Referred To As Speed?

Yeah, the term speed is a general street term street language that is used often for methamphetamine but sometimes thrown in used for other uppers.

So if we back up a little bit from that even because substances fall into three classes, either uppers, downers, or kind of psychedelics which are still uppers and downers in a in kind of a mixed way.

But they fall into those classes because our brain which is affected by all the substances we use, I have neurotransmitters which is the way our brain or the neurons communicate, and neurotransmitters are uppers or downers they they’re either excitatory or inhibitory.

So speed, as the name suggests, is really primarily affecting the neurotransmitters that have a strong activating effect in our brain. So and we can talk more about that, but that thus the name, that it’s it’s speed, it’s increasing, or it’s an excitatory effect in our brain.

Why Do People Start Taking Speed?

Teens, young adults, or anyone could be initially exposed to speed in a way of maybe a friend who does get Adderall as a prescription, and recognizes that it helps that that friend because that friend has ADHD, and uses it to help them in school.

And that’s perfectly appropriate. Using a prescription in an appropriate prescribed way, is not a problem.

But when someone starts taking extra like saying, well, it worked for the day, but I think I’m going to take it tonight, and I’m just going to stay up for hours or when someone starts taking it to suppress their appetite, because that’s also another side effect is, is using it like a weight loss thing, because it suppresses the appetite.

So they could start just going, you know, I think I’m going to try it because it’ll help in this situation. And my friend takes it, what’s the big deal. And so they try it and they realize, wow, I feel like you said artificially satisfied and powerful in this situation.

When we have the option in life is broadly speaking, when we have the option of feeling sort of negative or down or sad, or feeling powerful, and on top of things. And in control, we as humans tend to choose to feel more powerful, because it’s a much more satisfying place to be.

So the discomfort of feeling out of control, feeling sad, or feeling like you’re not accomplishing the things that you thought you should be accomplishing. And there’s a whole lot even into that.

We like to escape those negative feelings. There’s a lot of different ways to escape. And today, we’re not talking about alcohol, heroin and all the other downers. Today, we’re focusing on the uppers, because one way to escape is to go towards that upper strong, powerful feeling.

Also, people who are using meth are, at least initially, they’re still able to engage in school and life and work and doing things. And so they get the positive reward from peers, teachers, co workers about man, you are just on top of it you are doing so well, you got the going on, you know, and so there’s that, yeah, this isn’t all bad.

This is not a problem. I’m still doing stuff. I’m not like checking out of my, my work or my school. So I don’t think it’s a problem. And of course, there’s the issue could be defined, what is the problem. But in that initial moment, they think this is actually working for me, this is a really positive thing, because I feel great.

How Do I Detox From Speed?

What Are The Side Effects Of Speed And Uppers?

Read the answer straight from our podcast episode with Danielle de Boer, LPCC, LAC.

Any substance, if someone uses it the first time, if they don’t like it, they’re going to stop using it. But if they like it, it’s like, wow, that was really satisfying, I got a really either a powerful feeling from that, or man, I accomplished a lot, I didn’t get sleepy and I was focused, and I was I was really satisfied.

So having that satisfaction from using a substance means there’s a pretty high chance of going back and doing it again, you know, that’s what that’s how dopamine works. It’s a reward, right? It makes us say, Hey, let’s go back and do that, again, because that’s a good survival thing. So those initial uses extremely satisfying.

At some point, there’s a shift in and we can explain that at some point near to about what’s happening when it goes from just being a really positive thing to actually being an addiction.

Because just because someone uses something doesn’t mean they’re addicted to it, it can just be that they tried something out, they were curious, exposed to something and we’re like, I’m, I’m interested, I’m curious, I want to try that out. And so they try it out.

But it doesn’t mean they’re addicted, they could even use it repeated times, and not be addicted. And they could even have some problem effects from it, and not be addicted. But the positive things would be accomplishing so many things, that there’s great satisfaction in how much they cleaned their apartment, or how much studying they got done and how focused they were on their school, they could pull an all nighter and accomplish great things, or just not feeling depressed and just moving through the day and just feeling on top of the world are feeling really amped up for a an event that they’re going to, you know, a concert or a sporting event or something like that.

So having that really energized positive feeling. And also in that not having to kind of think about maybe some of the other things in their life that are not going so well. They those, those things that are not satisfying sort of fade away, and the brain is just enjoying that amped up positive area. So those are the positive things from it.

The negative side effects from it are things like a dry mouth. And with that dry mouth. With repeated Matthews, they tend to have dental problems, lack of sleep. So if they’re amped up for hours and hours, and sometimes days and days, their body is not getting to sleep.

Sleep is so important for our brain and our body to rejuvenate to clean out the kind of trash to consolidate memories to really learn to really progress to go into some relaxed, deep thinking creative areas.

So all of that doesn’t happen when someone’s on meth, or any kind of stimulant because they’re staying in the amped up place. also things like their cardiovascular system, their heart rate is in a constant high functioning mode.

And it tends to wear on it just like if you were to have your car in park, but keep it idling at 10,000 RPMs it’s going to wear out the mechanisms in your vehicle a whole lot faster than if your car’s able to idle at a much lower rpm. So in our in our body it’s similar.

What Are The Behaviors To Look For When Determining if Someone Is Using An Upper?

But there are some unique things to methamphetamine. When we’re talking a little more broadly, any of the uppers could be substituted in this conversation. So we could talk about cocaine, we could talk about nicotine even, which is highly addictive.

So people tend to go back there. But what you were what you were also saying there, but it there’s, there’s another impact here. It’s not just the initial use, but it’s also there are a lot of people who are what we call functional attics, they tend to think because I’m functional, it’s not a big deal. And we can kind of discuss is that the big deal?

What are the life consequences. But it’s important to note that there’s also the word addict in there a functional addict, that there’s still addiction as part of it. So addiction is then it’s used to be functional, or to regulate emotions.

Part of the definition of addiction is that I cannot function without it. Or I need more and more in order to keep functioning. Or if I don’t use it, I’m having significant withdraws. And part of that that withdraw thing relating to those neurotransmitters are that your brain, all the neurotransmitters in your brain, I like to picture it like, like a huge mobile like we’d hang above a baby’s crib.

If there were dozens of different neurotransmitters hanging off of that mobile. If I pull on a few more of those, those neurotransmitters hanging on that mobile, and I pull on a few of them, I don’t just affect those, the whole mobile is rocking and trying to find homeostasis. And pretty soon it finds this different balance point.

But if I’ve been let go and stop, stop pulling on those neurotransmitters, or in this case, stop using the substance, the whole mobile again, has to readjust.

So when someone’s going through withdraw, their brain is trying to readjust, it’s trying to figure out where is my new homeostasis, because I kind of stopped making this neurotransmitter on my own because we were getting so much of a like fake dopamine and fake serotonin and fake nor epinephrine from an external source.

So I kind of shut down my own neurotransmitter factory. So that’s what’s happening with withdraws. And just because someone is is functional, or hasn’t gotten arrested or hasn’t lost a significant relationship doesn’t mean it’s all okay. And it may just be okay for the moment. But it’s it’s not okay, really.

What Is It Like To Detox From Meth Or Speed?

So detoxing off of meth is interesting in a different way. Because actually, when clients come here to detox from meth insurance does not ever approve a true detox level of care.

They do approve a residential or RTC level of care for detoxing from meth.
Because alcohol is actually probably the most dangerous thing to detox from.

If you don’t detox appropriately, you have a seizure. And that’s clearly life threatening, and so much more of a medical concern they’re detoxing from meth, if you think someone’s been up for days, part of their detox is crashing, sleeping can’t get up.

Even they can say I drink coffee, and I try to get up and I just crash and for so for days, they just want to sleep and their body kind of needs to catch up. But even the term catch up is not really appropriate. You can’t really catch up on sleep, we could do a whole other thing in sleep.

The detox experience is partially a lot of sleep, but then partially just monitoring what’s going on with a heart rate. And as the body is starting to come down, what’s the next thing that’s popping up? Is there severe anxiety or depression? Are there some, like you alluded to the police about, oh, my goodness, I need to get back to work, I need to be productive, I need to go do something.

As soon as someone starts feeling a little better. They have this sudden urgency that, oh, I think I’m good, I need to go, I need to go. And there’s a lot of struggle with staying and engaging and completing the full detox and residential.

So detox is seen as purely medical and residential is seen as half medical and half therapeutic. And when someone comes into detox, detox from meth, they are immediately put into the residential level of care. So we are constantly encouraging them to engage in the therapy.

But there’s the struggle with the the body circadian rhythm being completely completely thrown off. I totally I completely relate to the coffee example, though, because I have that, like if I have one thing that is so hard for me to give up. It’s coffee.

And you know, if you stopped drinking coffee, then there’s headaches. And there’s like you said, excuses, well, I’ll do this tomorrow. Well, this, this won’t hurt to that no one’s going to get a DUI from too much coffee. Okay, that’s true. And there are other consequences.

Speed

A powerful stimulant that keeps people alert, usually sold as an off-white or pinkish powder – that sometimes look like small crystals

Quick info

How the drug works varies from person to person

How it looks, tastes and smells

What does it look like?

Speed is the street name for amphetamine sulphate, although it’s sometimes used to refer to other amphetamines.

It’s usually an off-white or pinkish powder and can sometimes look like crystals.

It’s also available in a paste form which is usually white/grey or brown in colour, and can be damp and gritty.

What does it taste/smell like?

Speed tastes bitter and unpleasant.

How do people take it?

How it feels

How does it make you feel?

Taking speed can make you feel:

Some people take it because it gives them the energy to do things for hours without getting tired – like dancing and talking.

Speed stops you feeling hungry too, and amphetamines like speed were once the main ingredient in diet pills.

Speed can also make users feel:

Some people have become psychotic and delusional when on speed, which means seeing or hearing things that aren’t there.

How does it make people behave?

Some people get very:

while others become:

There have also been cases of people becoming psychotic and experiencing delusions – which means seeing and hearing things that aren’t there.

Duration

How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.

To kick in

Speed takes a few minutes to kick in when snorted. Used orally, it takes between 20 minutes to an hour.

How long it lasts

The buzz can last between 3 and 6 hours.

After effects

People can feel down and low in mood for a few days after using speed.

How long will it be detectable?

Speed can be detected in your urine for 1 to 5 days after using.

How long a drug can be detected for depends on how much is taken and which testing kit is used. This is only a general guide.

The risks

Physical health risks

Mental health risks

The comedown from speed can last several days, and users often say they feel lethargic and sad after taking it.

Regular use of speed can also lead to problems with learning and concentration too.

Speed can lead to:

What is speed cut with?

Speed is usually a very impure street drug – base speed is usually purer. It’s not unusual for drugs like speed to be cut with cheaper substances to increase the weight of the drug and the dealer’s profits.

Speed is sometimes cut with caffeine, ephedrine, sugars (like glucose), laxatives, talcum powder, paracetamol and other drugs.

Some impurities can also be added by mistake, as impurities can be formed during the manufacturing process.

Mixing

Is it dangerous to mix with other drugs?

Yes, any time you mix drugs together you take on new risks. Things that affect your risk include the type of drug, the strength and how much you take.

Addiction

Can you get addicted?

Yes, speed is an addictive drug.

If you take a lot on a regular basis you can build up a tolerance to the drug so that you need higher doses just to get the same buzz or feel ‘normal’.

Regular users can increasingly take speed to avoid unpleasant withdrawals.

The law

This is a Class B drug, which means it’s illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.

Possession can get you up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.

Additional law details

Speed that has been prepared for injection becomes a Class A drug and can get you tougher sentencing if you’re caught with it or selling it.

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Speed Drug Addiction Treatment Near Charleston, SC

With so many drugs out there, it’s hard to keep them all straight. It’s even harder when people consider the fact that every drug has multiple street names. One such drug is methamphetamine, which is known to many people as speedballs. What is a speedball drug? And what are the side effects of taking it and how to find drug addiction treatment?

What Is Speed Addiction?

Speed is a stimulant that people sometimes take to speed up their brains. The drug comes in different forms, including powder, pills, and crystals. When speed is in crystal form, most people refer to it as ice or just crystal. Some of the other names that people use for speed include:

People take speed in many ways because it’s available in several different forms. They can inject, smoke, inhale or swallow it. When they snort or swallow it, they get a high right away. If they inject the drug, they get a quick but more intense high.

Why Do People Take Speed?

People can take speed for several reasons. Some take it because it’s a stimulant that keeps them awake. In many demanding jobs, alertness can become a problem if you’re working far more hours a week than you should. For that reason, speedballs may seem like the perfect answer for staying awake at work. The appeal of speedballs is extremely widespread. A surgeon who operates on people is just as likely to fall victim to speed addiction as someone working on an assembly line.

Others take it because it suppresses their appetite, making it far more easy for them to lose weight. For someone who has struggled for years with obesity, a speedball drug might seem like the perfect solution. In general, however, people like taking speed because it makes them feel as if they’re full of energy.

Dangers and Side Effects of Taking Speed

Speed causes numerous side effects. For one, it causes a lot of damage to the cardiovascular system. People who take it often have increased blood pressure and heart rate. Eventually, these effects damage the heart.

Speed can also make the urinary bladder sphincter contract. People who take it can struggle to control urinary functions because of that. If they keep taking speed for a long period of time, they may lose the ability to control urination altogether.

Studies also show that speed drug causes irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain. This damage can lead to strokes later in life. Speed also causes damage to the neurons in the brain that create dopamine. Over time, it creates symptoms that are similar to Parkinson’s Disease.

For women, speed increases the chances of delivering babies with abnormalities. The risk increases when they take speed while they’re pregnant.

People who use speed also suffer from extreme mood swings. Sometimes they experience decreased awareness even when they’re not on the drug. Without the drug, they experience insomnia and fatigue. They have to keep taking it to feel like they have energy.

Get Help for Speedballs Drug Use

What is speed? It’s a substance that can cause extreme damage to your body if you don’t get help. At Beaches Recovery in Florida, we can help you overcome addiction to nearly any drug, including speed. Some of the programs that we offer include:

Let us teach you more about answers to the question, “What is speed drug?” Reach out to us today to start your journey toward sobriety. Call an experienced addiction specialist at 866.605.0532 for a way out of drug addiction.

The Speed Drug: Risks, Signs of Abuse and Withdrawals

Speed is any classification of an amphetamine drug. Whatever the type of speed drug, there is the risk of abusing it. is a drug that carries many risks when it is abused. There is no distinction between an amphetamine that’s legal or illicit if it’s abused. It can lead to addiction, and has for many people. Speed is a dangerous drug that comes in many forms, both illegal and legal.

The Speed Drug: Risks, Signs of Abuse and Withdrawals

If you use speed recreationally or have been prescribed the drug for medicinal purposes, you may not realize its risks. It’s an important medication for people with ADHD or narcolepsy but can be harmful. There have been many cases where people have fallen into addiction with amphetamine use. Even if it’s just taken one time, it can become dependency and eventually full-blown addiction. There is bodily harm that can occur. For example, people have experienced heart attacks and dangerously high body temperature that damages the brain permanently. Perhaps you have been using speed, and you’ve been unaware of the consequences of it. You may have gotten the speed from a doctor to help with a particular condition. Or, it’s possible that you obtained it illegally on the street. Either way, if you’re abusing it, you need to know the dangers of it.

Speed helps users to stay awake and focused. It is used for a variety of medical issues due to it’s many effects on the body. When used as prescribed, it has the ability to help ease many health problems. It gets rid of fatigue and reduces appetite. However, as a Schedule II drug, it has proven to be highly abused. It causes severe physical and psychological dependence when it’s abused.

The following information is extremely valuable if you’re using amphetamines for medicinal or recreational purposes. You’ll learn more about the risks involved with speed. You’ll also learn about the signs of abuse and addiction, and how to get treatment for yourself or a loved one.

What is the Speed Drug?

Speed is a fairly well known and widely used street drug. A synthetic stimulant is made in ‘super labs’ all over the world. Amphetamines are sold for legal and illegal purposes. It is common for people to think that amphetamines are the same as methamphetamines. This is not the case. This quick video explains what amphetamines do to the body and it’s effects. As it comes in many forms, it has various appearances. This includes an off-white or pink-hued powder or in a crystal-like form.

Crystal meth (methamphetamine) is often called speed but is actually far more dangerous. It has a crystal-like appearance, and is highly addictive. There is but one methamphetamine that is prescribed with caution as a medication for the terminally ill. There are many amphetamines used for prescriptions. These are used to treat conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

To be clear, the medical system doesn’t refer to Adderall as speed. They are in the same class of stimulant drugs which is known as amphetamines. Adderall is combined with dextroamphetamine. There is varying degree of strength for all speed drugs and are all stimulants.

Whether you’re using the type of speed that’s illegal or legal, misusing speed has its consequences. Any stimulant drug can be abused, and abuse will often leads to addiction.

History of Speed

The speed drug, in all it’s forms, has had a long history. Amphetamines were synthesized in 1887 in Germany. It was named phenylisopropylamine due to the compounds it took to create it. A Japanese chemist managed to synthesize ephedrine. Methamphetamine was then synthesized from ephedrine. Neither of these drugs were used as prescription medications until 1934. Amphetamine was sold in an inhaler and used as a decongestant.

It eventually became evident that speed was highly addictive and causing mental issues within people using it. The government began to restrict the sales of all speed drugs. In the 1970’s, amphetamine was classified as a schedule II controlled substance.

Due to high demand for Methamphetamine which is nicknamed speed on the streets, they are synthesized illegally by people. If you’ve ever seen Breaking Bad, this tells the tale of a high school chemist turned meth maker. It was lucrative enough to pay for his huge medical bills due to his terminal cancer. This tells the tale of why people would ‘cook’ meth. Methamphetamine is prevalent on the black market whereas amphetamines are not as popular. This video includes users talking about what meth did to their lives.

Speed vs. Meth

Speed is the street name for stimulants. Methamphetamine is sold on the streets under the name speed or crystal meth. They are the same drug but they come in different forms and are used differently. This causes their effects and timelines to be different also. Meth that is sold as speed will come in the form of a pill or powder. It can be taken orally or injected.

Crystal meth is a solid rock or crystal and is smoked. Smoking it makes it more intense than ingesting it. Meth results in a stimulating blast of energy almost instantly. The user will be able to concentrate on things acutely and they will experience extreme pleasure. When someone takes a pill orally, the stimulating effects are less intense. In this sense, it’s safer than smoking meth.

With both drugs, there is a risk that the brain will become dependent on the surges of happy chemicals to feel good. Meth causes addiction far more quickly than prescription amphetamines. Regardless, they work on the brain in the same way. The risk of addiction is prevalent with both drugs.

Why is it Called Speed?

Science defines speed as the measurement of how fast something moves or is accomplished. Speed is accomplishing something quickly. When the ‘speed drug’ enter your body, it interacts with dopamine levels. The results of what this does as a high become clear. People talk fast, their reactions are speedy, and their movements become heightened. The heart rate increases too. Many of the body’s systems simply become faster. This is why it was given the name speed.

Effects on the Brain and Body

Speed has an effect on both your brain and body. It is one of the only drugs that can cause psychosis. Here are the effects of speed on the brain and body in detail.

Speed and the Brain

As speed has an impact on the brain’s neurotransmitter chemicals and dopamine, it alters your central nervous system. Every time you take speed, it causes dopamine levels to surge. Dopamine is the chemical of pleasure. It helps you to feel good. When you take any kind of drug that increases dopamine levels, you’re putting yourself at risk of becoming hooked on the feeling. Your brain will begin to give the job up to the drug.

The brain becomes dependent on speed to feel good. Speed suppresses your appetite. When the brain is overstimulated constantly be speed, it will change the brain structurally. If you try to stop once the brain become dependent on the stimulation, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms such as anger, restlessness, sweating, and uncontrollable shaking. Going through the recovery process when speed addiction occurs will include mental health therapies.

Speed and the Body

Due to the surge of dopamine levels, you will feel euphoria. Your body will experience tingles and you’ll have increased energy. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase so you’re at risk of high fevers in the body or cardiac arrest. Studies have found that amphetamines of all kind age the arteries dramatically. This can cause a user to look much older than they are. As the drug interferes with stem cell functioning, the body is unable to repair and renew itself. The skin looks aged beyond your years and there are often skin sores that are scratched to make matter worse. There is also risk of stroke, heart attacks, and aneurysm rupture.

List of Amphetamines and Their Description

Amphetamine is created with the compounds levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine. The compound dextroamphetamine is more potent and is used in ADD, ADHD, and narcolepsy medications. Methamphetamine is a drug made illegally in labs strictly for recreational use. This is due to the high health risks. There are plenty of amphetamines that are used pharmaceutically and have various brand names. The following is a list of these medications legally used:

Street Names

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has said there’s not much in the way of legal amphetamines. There are not many street names for these drugs when compared to other prescription drugs like opioids.

Street amphetamines are known as:

Dextroamphetamine is known as dexies. They are an amphetamine and a CNS stimulant used to treat brain disorders like ADHD. They have long-lasting effects that are alluring to those into the euphoric high of stimulants. This also makes them a risk for physical and psychological addiction.

Street meth is well-known in society. Breaking Bad was an in-depth show that allowed us to look into the life of making meth as well as the darkness that surrounds the industry. Meth is extremely addictive and causes many health issues for those who abuse it.

Street meth has many names. They include:

There is concentrated methamphetamine hydrochloride which is called ice and crystal on the streets.

Goofballs are a street drug that combines amphetamines and barbiturates.

Speed in Pop Culture

Adderall

Due to it’s ability to help people think better because they can focus, the ambitious will choose this as their drug of choice. Not for the high but for the ability to achieve. Tao Lin is a writer and has confessed taking Adderall. He would stay up all day and night to write. Detroit rapper Danny Brown called himself the Adderall Admiral. He says the drug is like steroids in the rap game.

Ecstasy and Molly

Ecstasy is methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It is an extremely euphoric drug that was introduced in the rave scene. Before that, it was actually a psychotherapy treatment in the 1970’s. It was introduced into the party scene as a safer alternative to cocaine. Molly is another form of ecstasy that comes in powder and crystal form.

Word on the streets is that Molly is the second coming of ecstasy. In the 90’s, the rave scene started in New York and Chicago. Now it’s Molly’s turn. Electronic dance music has increased in popularity and there are some big festivals that happen in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami. The Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh actually dedicated a novel to the drug, which became a bestseller. The book was called Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance.

Miley Cyrus sang about Molly in her hit called, “We Can’t Stop.”

We like to party,

Dancing with Molly,

Doing whatever we want.”

Celebrities Addicted to Speed

There are many celebrities over the last few decades that used amphetamines for various reasons. Here are some of the most prevalent.

Lindsay Lohan, a child Disney star was suspected of smoking meth. Her father spoke out about it in 2011. Lohan has been admitted into detox and rehabilitation on a number of occasions for meth and other substance addictions.

Robert Downey Jr. has reclaimed his life and career but things weren’t always so good. In 2000, he was arrested for having methamphetamine and cocaine in his possession. He went to rehab, got himself healthy and eventually made a career comeback.

Marilyn Monroe was given a secret vitamin formula by Dr. Max Jacobson which incorporated methamphetamines in it. She was injected with this meth formula regularly.

Fergie, singer from Black Eyed Peas and solo artist has been vocal about her drug use. She did a lot of meth and experienced the psychosis that comes with it. Fergie was in fear that the FBI and CIA were following her. She was just 90 pounds at one point.

Stephanie Pratt, star on the Hills reality TV show had an addiction to meth. She wrote about it in her book saying that addiction developed right away. She would take four hits before school and would usually have an average of 12 hits per day.

Tom Sizemore has experienced drug addiction with both heroin and crystal meth. He is still struggling with his battle and has been on the Rehab TV show with Doctor Drew.

Actor Nick Stahl checked into rehabilitation two times for his meth addiction.

Signs of Speed Abuse

When someone recreationally uses a form of any speed drug, they are abusing it. Speed abuse can be classified as using prescription amphetamines for too long. Both types of abuse are common.

If you’re abusing speed, there will be several signs. Common symptoms include:

Speed abuse doesn’t necessarily mean you’re addicted to speed. Of course, it can lead to addiction in time but the conditions are different in many ways. If you’re abusing speed, it may be because it makes you feel good. You’re more energetic and you may like the fact you lose weight rapidly.

That doesn’t mean you do it all the time and when you stop, withdrawal symptoms don’t occur. You may not experience addiction symptoms. The problem is there is the risk that addiction may develop without you realizing it. These types of addictions always begin with abuse. It also might not take long to form an addiction once you start abusing speed.

Is it Possible to Form a Speed Addiction?

Yes, there are high risks of becoming addicted to speed. Methamphetamines are more likely but when someone abuses amphetamine prescriptions, it’s also possible to develop addiction. Users like the way the family of speed drugs make them feel. It evokes feelings of euphoria that keep them coming back to use the drug repeatedly.

How long it takes to becoming addicted to speed is dependent on each user. Someone can become hooked on meth on the very first puff they smoke. It can also take months of chronic use for someone else. While short-term abuse makes a user feel excited with intense feelings and a greater sense of focus, long term abuse becomes dangerous.

The use of speed causes damage to a user’s body and mind. Depression and memory loss are common issues with chronic use of the drug. The short-term side effects can cause delusion, high temperature, problems with the heart, and paranoia. When used frequently due to addiction, it can develop into psychosis. Brain damage can occur from chronic use as well, which is irreversible.

Signs and Symptoms of Speed Addiction

For someone who is addicted to speed, they will experience various signs and symptoms of addiction. They will usually have many of the signs of speed abuse, along with a few additions.

The signs of speed addiction may include:

Are You Addicted to Speed?

You may be addicted to speed if you have experienced any of the above symptoms. Have you noticed any of these signs within yourself? If you have, it is likely that your speed abuse has become an addiction.

If you’re still unsure, taking a drug addiction quiz can offer you some clarity. This quiz will ask you many questions about your speed use. Answer them honestly. You’ll get immediate access to your results. This will tell you if you do have a speed addiction and how to get help.

Speed Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the indicators of an addiction is the presence of withdrawal symptoms. Prolonged speed use will often cause people to experience withdrawal symptoms. Stopping this drug can be quite a shock to the body, which why speed withdrawal symptoms occur.

When you stop using speed, you’re likely to experience many of the following speed withdrawal symptoms:

These withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to deal with. This is why professional treatment is recommended. Drug detox can help to alleviate many of them, making for a smoother recovery.

The Speed Drug Compared to Other Illicit Drugs

Speed is just one of the many illicit drugs available on the streets. Let’s see how speed drugs compare against the other commonly abused drugs in the United States.

Speed vs. Meth

To keep it simple, speed is amphetamine. This includes prescription amphetamines. It is much like Adderall or Ritalin. Speed is usually a fine powder or a paste. Meth is methamphetamine, a drug that is created in a laboratory illegally. It is a totally difference substance and comes in a crystal or rock form. Yes, it is a stimulant also but the two are vastly different. Meth is considered to be a form of speed. However, speed is not a form of meth.

Many would say that meth is much more dangerous than speed. This is the case for the prescription type.

The Risks of Speed for Abusers and Addicts

There are many risks associated with using speed. These risks and effects depend on what type of speed is being used. It also depends on how long you use it. Speed has both short and long-term effects for those who use it regularly.

The Short-Term Effects of Speed

The short-term effects of speed might surprise you. You don’t have to use any type of the speed drug for very long to experience the side effects. The different short-term effects of speed include:

There are extreme side effects that can occur as well. They include:

The Long-Term Effects of Speed

The long-term effects of speed can include:

People who use the speed drug for a long time may have additional risks as well. They are often at a high risk for exposure to different types of diseases. These can include hepatitis B, HIV, and hepatitis C.

Also, long-term speed or amphetamine use is associated with physical violence. Verbal abuse is also connected as is reckless and aggressive behavior. Tolerance is going to build up quickly which means the user will have to take more to get a similar high. The more speed in the body, the more damage it does. Toxic psychosis is an example of this.

Is There Treatment for Speed Abuse?

If you are a speed drug abuser, you may be wondering if you need treatment. Amphetamine or speed rehab probably isn’t necessary if you don’t have an addiction to speed. However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need treatment of some kind.

You should think about what it is that is causing you to use speed. External reasons can include the following:

There is the possibility that you have a co-occurring disorder and don’t even recognize it. Co-occurring disorders are typically associated with two or more addictions occurring at the same time. This is something you need treatment specific treatment for. Doing so now can help you stop using speed or even avoiding addiction to it in the future. After the detox process, you may need counseling may be all that you need to help you stop abusing speed.

Amphetamines Rehab Can Help with Addiction

Many drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers offer help for speed addictions. There is generally no need to seek out a specialty rehab facility or program for speed. A general addiction treatment center will be able to help you with your speed addiction. This is accomplished in a few different ways, such as:

Offering you the type of speed addiction treatment that will work for you. This includes behavioral therapy and education, diet and nutrition that helps the body recover, and opportunities to improve mental and physical health through activities.

Providing you with counseling and therapy that specifically addresses your unique needs.

Introducing you to other addicts who can offer support and encouragement.

Providing you with family therapy that can assist you with rebuilding broken relationships in your life.

Arranging the appropriate type of aftercare for you to ensure that your recovery is ongoing.

It’s much easier to overcome a speed addiction if you have the necessary support. There are aspects of addiction that you might not be aware of. When you know the spectrum of how speed addiction works and why you became addicted in the first place, you begin to heal. Your chances of being successful are much higher with the appropriate treatment.

If You’re Addicted to Speed, Treatment Offers You Freedom from Addiction

Any speed drug can cause addiction if misused. This is due to the way it works on the central nervous system which affects the brain and body. Amphetamines are helpful for certain medical issues but they also come with side effects that can cause people to want to use more. When they use more, the body and mind becomes dependent. Then the behaviors of addiction begin to unravel your life. It becomes difficult to function without having amphetamines in the system. This is true for legal and illicit versions of the drug.

Speed in all its forms can cause bodily systems to shut down. It causes mental issues like depression and anxiety. One can become angry and violent when they’re on the drug or when they’re withdrawing from it. Something that speed does to someone that other drugs don’t do is cause psychosis. This psychological problem can become quite serious. Delusional thoughts and seeing things that aren’t there can cause you to react irrationally. Injuries can also occur because you’re not thinking rationally. If you begin to feel like there’s a cycle of abuse forming or addiction is ruining your life, there is help available.

Whether it’s a prescription amphetamine or you’re addicted to street speed, there are a variety of treatments that have proven to help. It may feel as though you’re tied to amphetamines forever but it doesn’t need to take over your life. The right speed or amphetamines rehab can help you recover and find the freedom from addiction you’re looking for.

Where Can I Get Help For Speed Addiction?

Often, addiction treatment is necessary to recover successfully. We want to help you find the success you’re searching for.

Our Intensive Outpatient program (IOP) is designed to offer you a flexible opportunity to get addiction treatment. You’re still able to go about your normal life while getting the treatment required to rebuild your life. If you’re addicted to speed, it’s much easier to recover successfully when you get treatment. This program will provide you with a treatment plan that meets your unique needs.

If you, or someone you love has an addiction to a speed drug, isn’t it time you seek professional help? addiction Are you looking for a way to recover from speed? Please contact us right away to discuss your options for speed recovery.