Drug Abuse at Sea:
Amphetamines (speed, whizz)
Description
Amphetamine products, legally manufactured, contain the drug in the form of the
sulphate or phosphate salt. In pure form all are white powders except ipradol
which is found as white crystals. There are hundreds of brand names. They are
also found in pill or tablet form or as capsules, but occasionally in ampoules
for injection.
Illicit products vary in colour from a white or off-white powder to yellow or
brown depending on the type and amount of impurities and adulterants. They are
often damp, with a characteristic unpleasant odour due to the presence of solvent
residues.
Smell
All are normally odourless. Pure forms of amphetamine may smell faintly ammoniac or ‘fishy’.
Administration
Pills are usually taken orally or as a powder either sniffed,
smoked or dissolved in water and
injected. They are frequently taken in association with alcohol.
Associated Equipment
Usually none, except empty wrappings. Occasionally hypodermic syringes and needles.
Degree of Addiction
Psychological
addiction: strong
Environmental
addiction: fairly
strong
Physical addiction: none
Body tolerance high
It is a stimulant drug which produces sensations of alertness, confidence
and well being, appears to raise levels of energy and stamina, and lessens
the desire to eat and sleep. Regular use can produce a need to increase
the dose to achieve the same effect and can produce a powerful craving
for the drug. Long term use can produce serious mental and physical problems.
Its use may cause compulsion or dependency and extended use can cause
psychosis.
When the drug wears off there can be an unpleasant 'comedown'. Users feel tired,
lethargic and depressed and can lead them to take more of the drug to try to
avoid the comedown. There is also the added risk of dangerous infections being
spread such as HIV and hepatitis B or C if injecting equipment is shared. Many
users become physically run down, leaving them susceptible to a wide range of
infections
Popular Myths |
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Fiction: |
They are totally harmless. They just pep you up | |
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Fact: |
Instances of renal failure have been reported and these substances are known to affect other internal organs | |
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Fiction: |
They are all different | |
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Fact: |
Each of the types has many hundreds of brands. Only the colour and the presentation are different | |
