Amphetamine Category: Stimulants

Also called: speed, amphetamine sulphate, uppers, phet, billy, whiz, sulph, base, dexedrine, dexamphetamine.

How it’s used

Amphetamine is a stimulant (‘upper’). It can be a powder or tablet which you sniff, swallow or inject. Speed is an off-white or pinkish powder and can sometimes look like crystals. Base speed is purer and is a pinkish grey colour and feels like putty. You can dab speed onto your gums or sniff in lines like cocaine using a rolled up bank note. You can also roll it up in a cigarette paper and swallow. This is called a ‘speedbomb’. You can mix it in drinks or inject it. You can smoke methamphetamine in its ‘crystal’ form. It starts to affect you within 20 minutes and lasts for 4-6 hours.

Short-term effects

You feel exhilarated, with more energy and confidence
You don’t need much sleep or food
Your pupils look wider and your face paler
Your breathing and heart rate increase and blood pressure rises
Dry mouth, diarrhoea, need to urinate more often
Higher doses also cause flushing, sweating, headaches, teeth grinding, jaw clenching and racing heart
You may be talkative and aggressive
Can sometimes cause amphetamine psychosis, when you lose contact with reality

Long-term effects

Tolerance – you need to take more to get the same buzz
Anxiety, depression, irritability and aggression
Powerful cravings
You may become violent
Mood swings
Mental health problems such as psychosis, paranoia, delusions and hallucinations
Weight loss
Scratching or itchy skin
Sniffing speed can damage the inside lining of your nose
Injecting speed can cause vein damage and sharing needles puts you at risk of HIV and hepatitis

Other dangers

Risk of overdose
Heart failure
Very dangerous if you combine it with anti-depressants or alcohol
Risk of HIV and hepatitis if you share snorting or injecting gear
May trigger underlying mental health problems
Increased sex drive can lead to unsafe sex, with the risk of unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or HIV

If you are pregnant

Do not take if you are pregnant as we don’t know what the risks are to your baby.

Addictive

You can become addicted to speed physically and psychologically, so your body craves it and you find it hard to cope with life without it.

Withdrawal

You may have anxiety and panic attacks after withdrawal from speed. You may feel you have no energy for weeks afterwards.

How long does it stay in your system?

Speed will show up in a urine test for 1-2 days. (The length of time depends on the test used, the amount you take, if you have other medical conditions and your own metabolism. Please use this figure as a guide only).

What help is available?

Self-help support such as Narcotics Anonymous
Counselling or psychotherapy
Complementary therapies such as acupuncture
Support from your doctor
Residential treatment programmes
Aftercare
One to one or group family support
Contact the Drugs Helpline 1800 459 459 to find out about options in your area

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