I learned quite a bit about amphetamines in my forensics class, but the topic interested me so much I decided I wanted to look a bit further into it. I wanted to know things like why people feel a need to take them knowing they have severe side effects, some of which might even be long term. I was interested in finding how these people get a hold of them, how they’re made, what they’re used for, the side effects they bring upon use, what treatments are used for these symptoms, and what these people experience when taking them etc. In my research, I will be answering all these questions I have on amphetamines, and maybe even learning some extra information while doing so. Amphetamines are drugs that were first discovered in the 1800s and …show more content…
Similarly, athletes welcomed the drugs as performance- enhancing panaceas in postwar years. Around 1950, family doctors embraced amphetamines as psychiatric medications for their distressed patients, cemeting the notion that depression was both commonplace and easily treatable. Moreover, amphetamines were hailed as breakthrough in weight loss and enjoyed enormous success as diet pills, helping to transform obesity into the mencing through preventible and treatable epidemic that medicine views it as today (Rasmussen 3). Today, the use of amphetamines for medical assistance is very common, and as I mentioned before, it aids in many disorders, however, some people don’t neccesarily need the drug for medical purposes. People may simply take it instead as a method of getting high, this would now be considered illegal amphetamines which are not prescribed for medical treatment rather sold in labs for pleasure. People who purchase illegal amphetamines feel the need to use them in order to feel relaxed or to forget about their problems for a while and just be happy. Users experience the “thrill” of a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, blood vessel constriction and sweating. The illegal amphetamines, molly, for example makes the user feel as if they can be open, accepting, unafraid and connected to the people around them. The drug effects are stimulated by visuals, sounds, smells, and touch which bring pleasure to the consumer, and is the reason so many people are attracted to the drug (drugpolicy.org). Feelings of relaxation and clarity are reported. People using molly experience heightened sensations and want to intensify these feelings by dancing, talking and touching. Whether they are used legally or illegally they have some negative side effects, both long term or short
Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which work on the central nervous system as stimulants. A stimulant is a drug that produces a temporary increase of function activity by affecting the chemicals in the brain. There are 4 salts the combine to for the active ingredients, dextroamphetamine saccharate, dextroamphetamine sulfate, amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, and amphetamine. Inactive ingredients are also present, but they do not play a role in Adderall’s function.
In brief, while ecstasy at one point may have been a facilitator in the field of psychology between therapists and patients, it soon became a facilitator in society between recreational users and death. Ever since ecstasy was introduced to the curious public back in the 1960's, it has become a popular preference among drug addicts. Till this day, teenagers all over the world are being pressured into experimenting with MDMA leading them to a life controlled and regulated by not only ecstasy but other various drugs as well. It is actually quite interesting to see what lengths society will go to in order to attain and maintain a sense of happiness and ecstasy.
One may ask, what is methamphetamine and some of the side effect associated with use. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug chemically related to amphe...
Credibility material: Its intake results in adverse medical conditions that are further exalted by its addiction properties that ensure a continued intake of the substance. The drug can be abused through multiple means and is medically recorded to produce short-term joy, energy , and other effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. This ultimately results in numerous psychiatric and social problems; factors that played a major role in its illegalization after multiple and widespread cases of its effects were reported in the country during the 1900s. In addition to this, the drug results in immediate euphoric effect, a property which the National Institute of Drug Abuse (2010) attributes to be the root cause for its increased po...
Amphetamines produce feelings of euphoria, relieve fatigue, improve performance, increase activity, and suppress appetite. Euphoric effects associated with the use of amphetamines, increase potential for abuse. Consequently, prolonged use of amphetamines may lead to drug dependence and tolerance. Desired effects are only achieved by increasing to higher doses of amphetamine, which can result in an acute overdose. Seizures, hypertension, tachycardia, hyperthermia, psychosis, hallucinations, stroke, or death can be experienced. Additional reports revealed that those who abuse amphetamines were significantly more likely to report using a greater number of illicit substances including nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, and opiates.
Crystal meth is a sub-category of amphetamine. Amphetamines are synthetic amines- which are similar to the body's neurotransmitter: norepinehrine and the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Amphetamines stimulate the reticular activating system. This activation is transmitted to all parts if the brain. This process causes the user to become aroused, alert and hypersensitive to stimuli- such as sun light.
In a world where mental illnesses like PTSD, depression, and autism are becoming more and more prevalent, MDMA, or “Ecstasy” is just the mental boost that someone needs and is illegally being dealt to patients while in therapy or counseling. The theory is that MDMA can raise “happiness levels” by forcing the brain to release serotonin and dopamine at the same time, resulting in intense euphoria and “ego softening” (Errowid). Some other side effects of MDMA can include feelings of inner peace, increase in social bonding, and an increase in ability to communicate. Some of the less positive side effects can be eye wiggling, increased heart rate, and dehydration. All of which, are quite manageable and not too noticeable. Sufferers of social anxiety and depression could greatly benefit from MDMA, as it can break down inner boundaries and increase the need to be around other people. A grou...
Although drugs are used in an illegal aspect for the most part, there are accounts of medical research to prove the positive effects on some patients with long-term diseas...
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Drugs are used to escape the real and move into the surreal world of one’s own imaginations, where the pain is gone and one believes one can be happy. People look on their life, their world, their own reality, and feel sickened by the uncaringly blunt vision. Those too weak to stand up to this hard life seek their escape. They believe this escape may be found in chemicals that can alter the mind, placing a delusional peace in the place of their own depression: “Euphoric, narcotic, pleasantly halucinant,” (52). They do this with alcohol, acid, crack, cocaine, heroine, opium, even marijuana for the commoner economy. These people would rather hide behind the haze than deal with real problems. “...A gramme is better than a damn.” (55).
Cannabis, ecstasy and Heroin are just a few names of the drugs that are considered “taboo”. When in fact, these illegal drugs contain various positive impacts on one’s body. A drug like cannabis, when used, allows the use to feel happy, hilled and relaxed. Relaxation does not come easy for some people. Therefore, cannabis may be used for recreational use. Heroin can reduce physical and psychological pain. Many drugs such as, downers and stimulants aid in fighting depression, helping insomnia and nervous tension. “A temporary state of openness”, is what users of the drug ecstasy describe as its effects. For ecstasy, too, allows one to feel alive, alert and produces a feeling of great love towards people. The drug speed also gives an emotion of aliveness or excitement towards the user.
Watanabe-Galloway, S., Ryan, S., M.D., Hansen, K., M.P.H., Wullsiek B., B.A., Muli, V., M.P.A., & Malone, A.C. (2009). Effect of Methamphetamine abuse beyond individual users Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 4131, 241-8.Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/207970885?accountid=41057
The altered states of consciousness produced by drugs presents an all-to-common phenomenon in today’s society. Whether the desired sensation comes in the form of energy, a means of relaxation, or pain reduction, many people go to great lengths and present their bodies to threatening conditions in order to achieve this euphoric “high.” Unfortunately, the use of these drugs very often comes with dangerous side effects that users must learn to manage with for the rest of their life. According to neuroscientists, our entire conscious existence bases itself off of the lighting-fast reactions occurring in our nervous system (Nichols, 2012). Therefore, changing these neurological reactions can permanently effect our conscious being (Blatter, 2012). The physical and neurological effects from the use and abuse of stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, organic solvents, and athletic performance enhancing drugs will be discussed in order to better comprehend why certain individuals expose themselves to such dangerous materials with seemingly no regard to the permanent consequences associated with such actions.
Amphetamines are typically used to provide the same effect that pure adrenaline does. The drug is specified for people with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity as well as narcolepsy, although if you decide to abuse the drug and use it for recreational purposes you may start to feel paranoia and nervousness. Using amphetamines can also put a strain on the circulatory system by causing the user's blood pressure to increase suddenly. (Amphetamine) Long term psychological effects of the drug can cause something called amphetamine psychosis which is much like paranoid schizophrenia. This could lead towards hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and obsessions. (Amphetamine)
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.