AMPHETAMINES!!

What are Amphetamines? 

Amphetamines are stimulates, meaning they speed up messages to and from your brain to your body. People often take amphetamines to make them feel good about themselves.

They come in many forms including powder, tablets, crystal and paste. They can also be used in many ways according to their type, such as swallowed, injected, shafted (put up your bottom), smoked or snorted.

Common names that you may know them as are:  Speed, ice, fast, crystal meth, whizz, base, paste, dexies, meth.

Amphetamines, like any other drug, will have an individual reaction when taken; everyone reacts differently, and this is because of a number of factors including your mood, strength, usage, size as well as who you are using it with. However, generally amphetamines will make you feel excited, confident, talkative, energetic and awake.

Effects on the Body:

Short term

Short term effects include not feeling hungry and struggles to sleep; you may find that you can’t sleep for a night or two. They take a while to wear off, but when they do you may feel tired, irritable and depressed for a couple of days later.

Long term

Long term effects result in poor mental health. They can cause a disease called Paranola, which makes you feel as if you are being talked about or watched when you aren’t. If used a great deal, in can cause drug induced psychosis, where you start to believe strange things or see and hear things that aren’t there.

Important Note

People take amphetamines to make them feel good, however if you already have a mental health issue you might find that they can make you feel worse. You may feel anxious, restless, irritable and suspicious when you use them. In extreme cases, you may feel angry and behave more violently then your normal self would.

Staying safe: 

Using amphetamines, and any other drug, you always carry the risk of something bad happening. Here are some tips that can help you reduce some of the risks:

• Going low, going slow
• Just use a small amount at a time and wait to see how you feel before taking more
• Don’t mix with other drugs including alcohol
• Only use with people you trust
• Have one person in your group not use it to keep an eye on you (and your friends)
• Don’t share needles
• Use clean equipment to avoid other viruses like HIV or Hepatitis C
• Make sure you eat, even you don’t feel like it
• Take a break
• Make you sure you don’t use it every day – have days off, and don’t use before big events
• Call an ambulance if things get strange and bad

If you have any worries about using the drug or any worries while on the drug it is important that you find someone to talk to about you options or find somewhere where you can get help and information. You can do this by:

Finding your nearest headspace centre or online and telephone support by visiting eheadspace.org.au