Amphetamine, which is considered a schedule two substance and is often prescribed in the form of Adderall or Dexedrine, is a popular drug of choice for college students who are seeking to pack as much studying as they can within the course of the night. What these students do not know is that amphetamine can be very addicting and create havoc within their lives.
Though these drugs are often prescribed to children, adolescents, and adults suffering from numerous psychological disorders, they often fall into the hands of individuals that use them for non-medical purposes. These people have a very real probability of developing a dependence and addiction to amphetamines.
How Amphetamines Are Used And Why
The main way that amphetamines are used tends to be swallowed. The pill form of some of the available prescription medicines can be crushed and snorted for a greater effect. Meanwhile, amphetamine created in clandestine labs can be either smoked or injected. There are many desired effects that users of amphetamines wish to achieve, including:
- Increase in energy, focus, and alertness
- Greater sexual libido and satisfaction
However, these desired effects come at a great cost to the user. In any case, the long term and even short term benefits pale in comparison to the short term and long term harms:
- Violent outburst, irrational behavior, and psychosis
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and a greater chance of experiencing a heart attack
- Reduced appetite to the point of excessive weight loss and anorexia
Signs and Symptoms of Amphetamine Abuse
There are many typical things to look for when considering if a loved one or someone that you know is abusing amphetamine drugs. It typically does not take very long for a user to exhibit these common signs of using amphetamines:
- Extremely dilated pupils
- Staying up for days, sometimes weeks on end
- Rapid loss in weight
- Poor care for body hygiene and cleanliness
- Slurred, extremely rapid, or irrational speech patterns
Those are just the signs that you may witness while they are under the influence of amphetamines. Once they become addicted and run out of the drug, there are other things that you can pay attention to determine amphetamine abuse, including:
- Excessive time spent sleeping
- Irritation, anger, and irritability over the smallest things
- A great increase in appetite that differs vastly from their appetite while using
While these may seem like rather vague factors to detect amphetamine use, the difference between someone using amphetamines will be day and night when they run out of their drug. Amphetamine addiction is a very serious issue and can destroy an individual’s life. You can also find peace of mind in knowing that amphetamines can be tested for in the drug testing kits that are available for purchase at your local pharmacy.