GDCADA | Amphetamines - Facts and Statistics

Street Name / Slang Terms
amp, amped, bennie(s), benz, black & white, black beauties, black mollies, bumblebees, cartwheels, co-pilot, coast to coasts, crisscross, cross tops, dexies, dominoes, eye openers, footballs, hearts, jelly baby, jelly bean, jollies, leapers, lid Proppers, lightning, marathons, oranges, pep pills, rippers, road dope, snap, sparkle plenty, speed, sweets, thrusters, truck drivers, uppers, ups, wake-ups

What are they ?
Amphetamines belong to a group of drugs called psychostimulants, a central nervous system stimulant. They speed up the messages going to and from the brain and body. Their effect is similar to that of the body’s own adrenalin. Even though amphetamines mimic the effects of adrenalin, they act for a much longer time in the body.

Most amphetamines are produced in “backyard” laboratories and sold illegally. People who buy amphetamines illegally are often buying the drugs mixed with other substances that can have unpleasant or harmful effects.

What do they look like ?
On the streets, amphetamines can come as a white through to a brown powder, sometimes even orange and dark purple. The drug has a strong smell and bitter taste.

Capsules vary considerably in color and are sometimes sold in commercial brand shells. They are packaged in “foils” (aluminum foil), plastic bags, or small balloons when sold on the streets.

Tablets vary in color and contain a cocktail of drugs, binding agents, caffeine, and sugar. This form of amphetamines is increasing.

How are they used ?
Swallowed, injected (methamphetamine) or smoked. They are also “snorted” (sniffed) through the nose.

Short Term Effects
Increased talkativeness, aggressiveness, breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. Reduced appetite, dilated pupils, visual hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, compulsive, repetitive action.

Effects of large doses can include fever and sweating, dry mouth, headache, paleness, blurred vision, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of coordination, and collapse.

Long Term Effects
Long-term effects include tolerance and dependence, violence, aggression, and malnutrition due to suppression of appetite.

Amphetamine Statistics

An estimated 13 millions Americans use amphetamines without medical supervision.¹
Approximately 15% of 10^th and 12^th graders surveyed had ever used amphetamines without a prescription.¹
In a study at San Francisco General Hospital, approximately 25% of seizures were found to be caused by amphetamine use.¹

¹ In the Know Zone