Drugs and Our Society

1. Drugs and Our Society Amphetamines Part 8

2. Amphetamines • Amphetamines have played an important role in our society since first being marketed in 1927 - it was given to American soldiers during WWII to fight fatigue / heighten mood / and increase endurance - they do produce side effects which was discovered in combat - Hitler’s bizarre behavior towards the end of the war was caused by amphetamine use

3. Amphetamines, cont • History - first used as a nasal decongestant and to fight asthma which was very effective - sold as inhalers under the name Benzedrine - it began to be prescribed to increase work capacity (doctor’s prescription only) - in the 1930’s is was dispensed to treat: depression and narcolepsy - as well as an appetite suppressant and given to hyperactive children

4. Amphetamines, cont • Pharmacology - can be administered by ingestion / injection / snorting / and inhalation • Orally - produce peak effects in 2 to 3 hours - half-life: 10 to 12 hours - not totally eliminated for about 2 days • Injected effects are felt more quickly - usually within 5 minutes • Because tolerance develops quickly

5. Amphetamines, cont - many users do not derive pleasure from the drug - so they increase their dosage - or go on binges to maintain their high • Methamphetamine is a stronger form of amphetamines - injection is preferred to snorting • Smoking meth has grown in popularity - crystals of meth (ice) are placed into a glass bowl of a pipe - heated from bottom / the vapors are inhaled

6. Amphetamines, cont • Taken like this, the effects are felt in a few seconds - it increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system • Physiological effects - similar to people who are emotionally aroused - increased respiration and perspiration / higher blood pressure / increase in body temperature 11. Amphetamines are absorbed by the blood and distributed rapidly

7. Amphetamines, cont - it stimulates the neurotransmitters: - norepinephrine: user feels more alert - dopamine: becomes euphoric / more active • Snorting: effects occur within 10 to 15 minutes - last up to 5 or 6 hours 13. Removal from the body (2 ways) - excreted through the urine after being metabolized by liver enzymes - deactivated by the kidneys by adding molecules to the amphetamine compound

8. Amphetamine Trade 1. Japan and Sweden have had far more abuse problems than the United States - they banned its use, and now deal with the illicit drug trade - Poland is one of the largest producers for the European market 2. Into the 1930s, one could legally obtain the drugs in the United States - they were used mainly by truck drivers and college students - truck stops served as distribution centers

9. Amphetamine trade, cont • They were also easily obtained by prescription - used to treat depression or obesity - hospitals administered amphetamines to people who overdosed on sleeping pills • Because of this indiscriminate prescribing - the federal government imposed regulations in 1965 to limit their use - in the 1970s they represented 8% of all prescriptions

10. Consequences of amphetamine use 1. Like cocaine, amphetamine use does not produce classic withdrawal symptoms - but those who are dependent experience a type of withdrawal • With several days of moderate to heavy use, individuals “crash” - this is marked by symptoms opposite the effects of amphetamines, such as lethargy / exhaustion / depression / and hunger

11. Consequences, cont • Symptoms of withdrawal are undeniable, but not life threatening - within hours after one stops taking large doses - energy levels decline / mood is altered / and sleep may follow for up to 24 hours - upon waking, the user feels depressed • Stimulants can improve mental and physical performance - with simple tasks they are effective - complex tasks, they are counterproductive

12. Consequences, cont • “Speed kills” was a popular slogan in the 1960s - it alluded to the consequences of taking amphetamines - a user can die from their risk-taking behavior • An example is an unhealthy life style - one’s nutrition and health are neglected - few people die as a result - but it can cause an irregular heartbeat / stoppage of the heart / or a stroke

13. Methamphetamine • After WWII, meth (speed) began to be widely abused in the United States - today, over 20 million people have used meth at least once - it has been placed in Schedule 2 of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act 2. It is a more potent version of amphetamine used to treat narcolepsy / Parkinson’s / and to suppress appetite - it is a powerful and addictive stimulate drug - it activates certain systems in the brain that are much greater than amphetamines

14. Meth, cont • It is more likely to be used for nonmedical purposes - such as ‘speed freaks’ going on binges - shooting up every few hours over a 5 or 6 day period before crashing - this is followed by sleep, which can last anywhere from 12 hours to 4 days • Between 2002 and 2005, there were over 3,000 deaths from meth use - last year, more than 10,000 people went to emergency rooms as a result of meth use

15. Meth, cont • Meth ranks 4th among drugs causing death - coming behind nicotine / alcohol / and heroin - it is believed that it will soon pass heroin - most deaths and ER visits occur in the west • Besides clandestine labs in the United States - Mexico has become the major producer - DEA allocates $24 million for the trafficking / production / and abuse of meth - the low cost of production contributes to its rapid growth

16. Meth, cont - along with a high that can last up to 14 hrs • Adverse effects: - slurred speech / loss of appetite / excitement / euphoria - increased blood pressure and heart rate / chest pain / hot flashes - paranoia / hallucinations / and death • In the late 1970s, ice entered the drug scene - named for its crystal form (crystal meth) - swallowed: speed / crystal (Yaba – pill form) - injected: crank - smoked: ice / glass