Although Amphetamines are prescribed to treat Parkinson’s Disease, ADHD, and narcolepsy, amphetamines are highly addictive and their effect is to stimulate the central nervous system.
Amphetamines can be detected for 1-3 days after use with a urine test. Most amphetamine panels will detect prescribed medications as well as methamphetamine and MDMA (aka Ecstasy). You can test for amphetamine in a 5 or 10 panel drug test.
What is Their Origin ?
Amphetamine was first available in the 1930s as Benzedrine as an over-the-counter inhaler to treat nasal congestion. By 1937 amphetamine was available by prescription in tablet form and was used in the treatment of the sleeping disorder narcolepsy and ADHD.
Over the years, the use and abuse of illegally produced amphetamines have spread. Today, clandestine laboratory production of amphetamines has exploded, and the abuse of the drug has increased dramatically.
Recognizing Amphetamine Use
The following signs and symptoms may be noted by a supervisor:
What do they look like?
The following signs and symptoms may be noted by a supervisor:
Amphetamines can look like pills or powder. Common prescription amphetamines include methylphenidate (Ritalin or Ritalin SR), amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine).
Powdered methamphetamine, often referred to as “speed,” “meth,” “crank” or “chalk,” is a white, odorless, bitter tasting chemical that can easily be dissolved in water or alcohol or can be snorted, injected or swallowed. In the 1980s, “ice,” a smokable form of methamphetamine, was commonly available. “Ice” looks like a small chip of frozen water/ice and is usually clear (like ice!). It is so pure that “ice” can be heated and its smoke/vapors can be inhaled without significant loss of effect. The odorless smoke leaves a residue that can be re-smoked, and can produce a high that may last for 12 hours or more.
How amphetamines affect the human body
Physical effects of amphetamine use include increased blood pressure and pulse rates, insomnia, loss of appetite, and physical exhaustion.
Overdose effects include agitation, increased body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions, and possible death
Meth and Ecstasy
Amphetamine and or methamphetamine are a carefully regulated class of illegal drugs. (Meth is the most powerful of them.) MDMA/Ecstasy/X/E/XTC/Molly is also a member of the amphetamine family and today the drug is one of the most popular first-time initiated substances, and thereafter continually abused drugs. Recently a new version has become popular and it is known as “Molly.”