NAMES
speed, whizz, uppers, amph, billy, sulphate
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE/HOW IT'S TAKEN
- Speed usually comes as a grey, white or dirty-white powder, or sometimes in tablets.
- It can be snorted, swallowed, injected or smoked.
- Speed is the most impure illegal drug in the UK.
- Amphetamines are Class B drugs (but carry Class A penalties if prepared for injection).
THE EFFECTS
- Speed is a stimulant. It quickens the heart beat and breathing rate.
- Users may feel confident. Their minds race and they may feel energetic.
- It suppresses the appetite, but doesn't satisfy the body's need for nourishment.
- Some people also become tense and experience feelings of anxiety.
THE RISKS
- The comedown (tiredness and depression) lasts for one or two days, and sometimes longer.
- Sleep, memory and concentration are all affected in the short-term.
- High doses repeated over a few days may cause panic and hallucinations.
- Long-term users may become dependent on the buzz speed gives them.
- Tolerance can develop, which means the user needs more to get the same effect.
- Long-term use puts a strain on the heart. Overdose can be fatal.
- Use of speed can lead to mental illness such as psychosis.
THE LAW
Class B.
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