Download AmphetAmines (speed, ice)

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Amphetamines (Speed, Ice)
Speed is part of the amphetamine family of drugs, which also includes ice.
Ice is the purest form of amphetamine, followed by base and then speed.
The potential for addiction and physical and mental problems from using
all amphetamines is very high.
Speed and Ice facts at a glance
The signs and symptoms of using amphetamines can include:
»» Increased and irregular
heart rate
»» Blurred vision
»» Increased breathing
»» Overheating and sweating
»» Teeth grinding
»» Dry mouth and lips
»» Mood swings
»» Nervousness
»» Aggression
»» Dilated pupils
»» Hallucinations
»» Restlessness
»» Paranoia
»» Nausea and vomiting
»» Headaches
»» Insomnia
Consequences of using amphetamines may include:
»» Chronic sleep problems
»» Heart failure or stroke
»» Emotional instability
»» Psychosis
»» Insomnia
»» Severe depression
»» Cracked teeth through grinding
»» Dependence/addiction
»» Violence
»» Nerve cell damage
»» Anxiety
»» Death
»» Panic attacks
»» HIV and hepatitis if injecting
Effects of using speed:
In the short term, using amphetamines can lead to increased and irregular heartbeat and breathing, excessive
sweating, overheating, blurred vision, teeth grinding and jaw clenching, dilated pupils, nausea and insomnia.
There are also strong links between amphetamines, violence and other reckless behaviours that put the user
and others at risk. Ice is more potent that other forms of amphetamine, and is much more pure than speed.
Long term use can lead to significant dental issues, stroke and heart failure and a risk of dependence, while
injecting speed intravenously greatly increases the risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis. Users also face serious
psychological issues with prolonged use including attention and memory issues, decreased emotional control,
paranoid delusions, hallucinations, mood swings and depression. This can have serious social and financial
consequences for the user.
Adapted from Australian Government Illicit Drugs in Sport Education Program
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COCAINE
Cocaine is a stimulant that has similar effects to other amphetamines
such as speed and ice. However, it can produce a more intense and shorter
‘high’ depending on the dose. It can also be further processed to form ‘base’
and ‘crack’. All forms of cocaine are highly addictive and can cause serious
physical and mental health problems for a user.
COCAINE facts at a glance
The signs and symptoms of using cocaine can include:
»» Anxiety
»» Tremors
»» Hallucinations
»» Paranoia
»» Agitation
»» Chest pain
»» Lethargy
»» Nose bleeds
»» Dilated pupils
»» Overheating and sweating
»» Aggression
»» Muscle twitches
»» Increased heart rate
»» Nausea and vomiting
»» Reduced appetite
Consequences of using cocaine may include:
»» Depression
»» Stroke
»» Impaired sexual performance
»» Convulsions
»» Psychosis
»» Nasal damage
»» Dependence
»» Seizure
»» Death
»» Kidney failure
»» Violent or erratic behaviour
»» Nasal and sinus congestion
»» HIV and hepatitis if injecting
Effects of using cocaine:
In the short term, cocaine can produce increased heart rate, paranoia, agitation, dilated pupils,hallucinations,
tremors, muscle twitches, nausea and vomiting. The immediate effects of the drug can intensify when it’s
taken in larger quantities, and can produce an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, hyperthermia, seizures or stroke.
Using large quantities of cocaine frequently can also lead to cocaine psychosis. This is characterised by
paranoid delusions, hallucinations and bizarre, aggressive or violent behaviour. These symptoms usually
stop a few days after the user has taken cocaine, but in some cases require further medical treatment.
As well as cocaine psychosis, long-term users also face the potential problems of eating and sleeping
disorders, impaired sexual performance, ongoing respiratory problems, convulsions, kidney failure and are
at an increased risk of experiencing a stroke. Sharing needles to inject drugs greatly increases the risk of
contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.
Using cocaine in combination with alcohol can also be dangerous. When the two are mixed the body
produces a substance in the blood called cocaethylene, which can be more toxic than cocaine alone.
Adapted from Australian Government Illicit Drugs in Sport Education Program
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ECSTACY
The active ingredient in ecstasy is meant to be MDMA, however,
as this ingredient becomes more difficult to obtain, drug makers
turn to a number of other chemicals to make ecstasy tablets.
As a result, pills marketed as ecstasy are more likely to contain
other drugs such as speed or other hallucinogens.
ECSTACY facts at a glance
The signs and symptoms of using ecstacy can include:
»» Increased blood pressure
and pulse
»» Vomiting
»» Jaw clenching
»» Sweating
»» Insomnia
»» Confusion
»» Hallucinations
»» Nausea
»» Dilated pupils
»» Loss of appetite
»» Panic
»» Teeth grinding
»» Tremors
»» Nervousness
»» Increased body temperature
Consequences of using ecstacy may include:
»» Chronic sleep problems
»» High blood pressure
»» Anxiety
»» Severe depression
»» Nerve cell damage
»» Body overheating
»» Cracked teeth from grinding
»» Dehydration
»» Emotional instability
»» Memory impairment
»» Heart failure
Effects of using ecstacy:
As with all stimulants, the chemicals in ecstasy speed up the central nervous system.
There are usually three phases associated with taking ecstasy:
Coming Up: The user may experience tightening of muscles, especially in the jaw, dilated pupils,
visual distortions, nausea or vomiting, strong pulse, increased temperature, confusion and panic.
Plateauing: Where the user may feel more awake, relaxed and confident and have lower urine
output and increased thirst.
Coming down: The user will often feel physically exhausted, depressed, anxious, paranoid, irritable or may
be unable to sleep. The comedown can be more intense if the user has taken other drugs, including alcohol.
In the short term, ecstasy can produce increased heart rate and blood pressure, overheating,
jaw clenching, teeth grinding, tremors, nausea, enlarged pupils and anxiety. There is a greater risk of
physical and psychological harm as a result of taking ecstasy for those with the conditions such as heart
disease, diabetes, epilepsy, liver problems, hypertension, panic attacks or a history of mental illness.
Longer-term effects of using ecstasy include cracked teeth through clenching and grinding, high blood
pressure, memory and attention impairment, lethargy, decreased emotional control, severe depression
and possible nerve cell damage.
Adapted from Australian Government Illicit Drugs in Sport Education Program
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MARIJUANA
There are a number of different ways in which marijuana can be produced
as well as taken. While they all have different potencies, all three types of
marijuana (cannabis, hashish and hash oil) are capable of causing a variety
of mental and physical problems that result from short and long term use.
marijuana facts at a glance
The signs and symptoms of using marijuana can include:
»» Slow thinking
»» Panic attacks
»» Dilated pupils
»» Increased appetite
»» Reduced motivation
»» Hallucinations
»» Slow reflexes
»» Anxiety and paranoia
»» Blood shot or glassy eyes
»» Mood swings
»» Problems concentrating
»» Delusions
»» Reduced coordination
»» Psychosis
Consequences of using marijuana may include:
throat, tongue
»» Hallucinations
»» Dependence
»» Respiratory illness
»» Sleep problems
»» Memory problems
»» Anxiety and depression
»» Paranoia
»» Schizophrenia
»» Cancer of lung, mouth,
»» Learning difficulties
Effects of using marijuana:
In the short term, using marijuana can lead to learning difficulties, impaired motor skills, slower reflexes,
reduced coordination and bloodshot or glassy eyes. Short term use can also lead to acute mental health
issues such as memory loss, learning difficulties, mood swings, paranoia, anxiety, decreased motivation,
hallucinations, dependence, psychosis and psychotic symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Marijuana can also lead
to deterioration in the condition of people with pre-existing mental illnesses and symptoms of schizophrenia.
While these mental illnesses may disappear when people stop using, there is a risk that with continued use
these illnesses can become long lasting. These, and other problems associated with marijuana use are more
common in those who first use at an early age and use higher doses for longer periods of time.
If a person is dependent on marijuana and suddenly stops using it, they usually experience withdrawal
symptoms, as their body readjusts to functioning without the drug. These symptoms usually last for less
than a week, although people often experience difficulties with concentration, memory and learning as
well as problems sleeping.
Adapted from Australian Government Illicit Drugs in Sport Education Program
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Other Drugs (Hallucinogens and Depressants)
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There are a wide range of drugs that are just as harmful as the more commonly used
drugs, such as ecstasy or marijuana. These drugs can be depressants, such as sleeping
pills and heroin or hallucinogens such as LSD, magic mushrooms or Ketamine.
Hallucinogens at a glance (Acid/LSD, Magic Mushrooms, Ketamine)
The signs and symptoms of using hallucinogens can include:
»» Altered perception
»» Drowsiness
»» Insomnia
»» Numbness
»» Hallucinations
»» Confusion
»» Disorientation
»» Vomiting
»» Nausea
»» Paranoia
Consequences of using hallucinogens may include:
»» Anxiety
»» Flashbacks
»» Fear from hallucinations
»» Paranoia
»» Confusion
»» Dependence
»» Self harm
»» Lack of coordination
»» Depression
»» Violence
DEPRESSANTS at a glance (Heroin, Sleeping tablets, other Opiates)
The signs and symptoms of using depressants can include:
»» Confusion
»» Slurred speech
»» Slow breathing
»» Low blood pressure
»» Reduced coordination
»» Low heart rate
»» Lethargy/Drowsiness
»» Nausea and vomiting
Consequences of using depressants may include:
»» Highly addictive
»» Depression
»» Chronic constipation
»» Infections
»» Mood swings
»» Reduced sex drive
»» HIV and hepatitis if injecting
»» Anxiety
»» Menstrual irregularity and infertility in women
»» Overdose and death
Effects of using depressants:
Street heroin is mixed with many other chemicals, making it highly poisonous and difficult to estimate
its purity. This makes accidental overdose more likely, as well as increasing the risk of skin, heart and lung
infections. The risk of contracting blood borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B and C also increases
or people who share needles.
Long term complications from using depressants include constipation, mood swings, depression and
other mental health issues, memory impairment, irregular periods and infertility in women and loss of
sex drive in men. People who use depressants regularly are also likely to develop a tolerance to the drug,
as well as a physical and psychological dependence to it.
Adapted from Australian Government Illicit Drugs in Sport Education Program