SCIENTIFIC TERM:
Amphetamine Sulphate.
STREET NAMES:
Speed, Sulphate, Sulph, Whizz, Billy
EFFECTS:
Speed is a stimulant and therefore gives you energy and keeps you awake; the effects can last up to 3-4 hours. It also has a tendency to make people more talkative and heightens confidence. It speeds up breathing and heart rate and suppresses the appetite .
DRUG FORM & METHOD OF USE:
Speed mainly comes as a white / yellow crystalline powder, usually sold in ‘wraps' although can also come as tablets, which are usually swallowed with a drink. The powder can be eaten, snorted or injected.
HEALTH RISKS:
Even at low doses speed can cause mood swings, irritability and restlessness. Long-term use can cause insomnia, paranoia and mental confusion. Users can become physically run down because of lack of sleep and food. It can make some people very aggressive and trigger violence. Also can result in severe depression in heavy users as well as panic, confusion, chest pains, fainting, speeds up heartbeat and raises blood pressure. There are further risks from injection including the HIV virus and Hepatitis. The risk of overdosing increases if speed is mixed with other drugs such as Heroin, or depressants such as alcohol.
TOLERANCE:
Tolerance to speed develops rapidly which tempts users to increase their dose. Withdrawal from speed is divided into 2 phases – the immediate ‘crash' which can last up 2-3 weeks. Effects include hunger, extreme tiredness/fatigue and long periods of disturbed sleep. In the second phase, heavy users can become severely depressed and very irritable. This phase can last for weeks and sometimes months.
LAW:
Speed is a Class B drug. It's illegal to have, give away or sell. Prepared-for-injection Speed becomes a Class A and can get you tougher sentencing if you're caught with it or selling it. Possession can get you up to five years in jail and an unlimited fine. Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you up to 14 years and an unlimited fine.
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