What is Speed Drug? Understanding Methamphetamine and Its Effects

Speed is a term that often surfaces in discussions about illicit substances, but what exactly is speed drug? In essence, speed is a less potent form of methamphetamine, an illegal stimulant that profoundly affects the central nervous system. This means it interferes with the communication pathways between your brain and body, leading to a range of effects, some of which users may perceive as desirable in the short term, while others are undeniably dangerous.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of speed drug, detailing its nature, effects, risks, and available resources for those seeking help. It is crucial to understand the realities of speed use, as its impact can be far-reaching and potentially life-threatening.

What is Speed? Delving into the Details

Speed belongs to the amphetamine family, functioning as a central nervous system stimulant. To clarify further, amphetamines are a class of drugs that can be both legally prescribed and illegally produced. In medical contexts, certain amphetamines are prescribed to manage conditions like narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). However, illicit forms of methamphetamine, primarily speed, base, and crystal meth (ice), are manufactured and distributed illegally.

Speed, in its powder form, can vary in appearance, ranging from white to brown, and sometimes exhibiting grey or pinkish hues. It is characterized by a distinct, strong odor and a bitter taste. Speed is also available in pill form. Users consume speed through various methods, including:

Swallowing it in pill form or mixed in drinks.
Injecting it directly into the bloodstream for a rapid and intense effect.
Smoking it, often by heating the powder and inhaling the fumes.
Snorting the powder, allowing it to be absorbed through the nasal membranes.

Speed is known by various street names, which can vary regionally and within different user groups. Common slang terms for speed include:

Up
Uppers
Louee
Goey
Whiz
Rack

Understanding these different names is important for recognizing discussions about speed and for harm reduction efforts.

Speed vs. Ice: Understanding the Potency Difference

It’s important to differentiate speed from ice, another form of methamphetamine. Ice, also known as crystal meth, is the most potent and purest form of methamphetamine. Speed is considered less potent than ice, meaning it contains a lower concentration of methamphetamine. This difference in potency is crucial because it impacts the intensity and duration of effects, as well as the risks associated with use. Users sometimes mistakenly believe speed is safer than ice due to its lower potency, but both substances carry significant health risks.

Street Names for Speed: Expanding the Vocabulary

Recognizing the various street names for speed is essential for communication and awareness. Besides the terms already mentioned, other names might be encountered depending on location and social circles. Being familiar with these terms helps in understanding conversations about drug use and in educational and outreach efforts aimed at harm reduction.

What are the Effects of Taking Speed? Exploring the User Experience

The effects of speed manifest rapidly when injected or smoked, often felt almost instantaneously. When snorted or swallowed, the onset of effects is slightly delayed, typically taking around half an hour to become noticeable. The duration of speed’s effects can last up to six hours, contingent on the dosage consumed.

Users often seek speed for its perceived positive effects, which can include feelings of euphoria and increased energy. These desired effects may encompass:

Energy Boost: Speed is a stimulant, leading to a significant surge in energy levels, enabling users to feel tireless and capable of prolonged activity.
Increased Alertness: Users often experience heightened alertness and focus, feeling more aware of their surroundings and mentally sharp.
Enhanced Talkativeness: Speed can make individuals more sociable and talkative, reducing inhibitions and fostering a desire to communicate.

Alt text: A close-up photo illustrating the snorting of white powder drugs, emphasizing the risky behavior and potential health hazards associated with drug use.

However, alongside these sought-after effects, speed use also carries a spectrum of undesirable and potentially harmful side effects. These negative effects can include:

Elevated Heart Rate and Breathing: Speed stimulates the cardiovascular system, leading to a rapid increase in heart rate and breathing, which can be dangerous, especially for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
Increased Blood Pressure: Similar to heart rate, speed elevates blood pressure, putting strain on the heart and blood vessels. Prolonged or excessive increases in blood pressure can lead to severe cardiovascular complications.
Loss of Appetite: Speed can suppress appetite, leading to reduced food intake and potential nutritional deficiencies, especially with chronic use.
Increased Sex Drive: While some users report an increased libido, this effect can be accompanied by risky sexual behaviors and impaired judgment.
Jaw Clenching and Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Muscle tension caused by speed can result in involuntary jaw clenching and teeth grinding, potentially leading to dental damage and jaw pain.
Pupil Dilation: Speed causes the pupils to widen, which is a visible physical sign of its effects.
Nausea and Vomiting: Gastrointestinal distress, including nausea and vomiting, can occur as side effects of speed consumption.
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia): Reduced saliva production is a common side effect, contributing to discomfort and potentially long-term dental problems.
Nervousness, Anxiety, and Paranoia: Speed can induce or exacerbate feelings of nervousness, anxiety, and paranoia. In some individuals, particularly those predisposed to mental health conditions, speed can trigger or worsen paranoia and anxiety significantly.

It’s crucial to recognize that the intensity and nature of speed’s effects can vary considerably between individuals. Several factors contribute to these variations:

Dosage: The amount of speed consumed directly influences the effects. Higher doses generally lead to more pronounced and intense effects, both positive and negative, and increase the risk of adverse reactions and overdose.
Strength and Purity: The purity and concentration of methamphetamine in speed can vary significantly. Higher purity speed will produce stronger effects, increasing the risk of overdose even with smaller amounts.
Individual Factors: A person’s size, weight, and overall health status play a role in how speed affects them. Tolerance, built up from previous use, also modifies the response to speed. Individuals with pre-existing physical or mental health conditions may experience more severe or unpredictable reactions.
Polydrug Use: Combining speed with other drugs, including alcohol, can significantly alter its effects and increase the risks. Drug interactions can be unpredictable and dangerous, amplifying both desired and undesired effects and increasing the likelihood of adverse health outcomes.

For more detailed information on the broader effects of drug use, resources like ‘What are the effects of taking drugs?‘ on the Department of Health website offer valuable insights.

What Can Go Wrong with Speed? Unveiling the Dangers

The aftermath of speed use, commonly referred to as the “come down,” can be a challenging experience, often lasting for days. During this period, individuals may experience a range of distressing symptoms:

Sleep Disturbances and Exhaustion: Speed disrupts normal sleep patterns, often leading to insomnia followed by extreme fatigue and exhaustion as the drug’s effects wear off.
Headaches: Headaches are a frequent complaint during the comedown, likely due to the drug’s impact on blood vessels and neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
Dizziness: Dizziness and lightheadedness can occur as the body readjusts after the stimulant effects of speed subside.
Confusion: Mental confusion and disorientation are common, impacting cognitive function and the ability to think clearly.
Body Aches and Pains: Muscle aches and pains, sometimes described as flu-like symptoms, are experienced as the body recovers from the physical stress induced by speed.
Anxiety: Rebound anxiety is a prominent feature of the comedown, with users often feeling significantly more anxious than their baseline state.
Hallucinations: In some cases, particularly with higher doses or prolonged use, individuals may experience hallucinations, perceiving things that are not real.
Paranoia: Paranoia, characterized by irrational distrust and suspicion of others, can be exacerbated or triggered during the comedown phase.
Depression: A significant drop in mood and the onset of depressive symptoms are common as the brain’s neurochemistry attempts to rebalance after speed use.

Speed Overdose: Recognizing the Signs and Acting Fast

Overdosing on speed is a serious and potentially fatal risk, particularly when using large amounts or highly potent batches. Recognizing the signs of a speed overdose is crucial for timely intervention. Symptoms of a speed overdose may include:

Racing Heartbeat: An excessively rapid heartbeat is a key indicator of overdose, reflecting the drug’s extreme stimulation of the cardiovascular system.
Seizures or Convulsions: Speed overdose can trigger seizures or convulsions, characterized by uncontrolled muscle spasms and loss of consciousness.
Loss of Consciousness or Difficulty Breathing: If a person becomes unresponsive or struggles to breathe, it’s a critical emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
Chills or Fever: Paradoxically, despite its stimulant effects, overdose can sometimes cause fluctuations in body temperature, leading to chills or fever.
Arching Back: Involuntary muscle spasms can cause the back to arch unnaturally.
Restlessness or Agitation: Extreme restlessness and agitation, beyond the typical stimulant effects, can signal an overdose.
Panic, Hallucinations, or Paranoid Thoughts: Severe psychological symptoms like panic attacks, intense hallucinations, and pronounced paranoid thoughts can indicate an overdose situation.
Vomiting: Persistent or forceful vomiting can also be a sign of the body’s toxic reaction to a speed overdose.

A speed overdose can lead to severe and life-threatening complications, including:

Stroke: The surge in blood pressure and heart rate during an overdose can cause a stroke, damaging brain tissue due to interrupted blood supply.
Heart Attack: Excessive cardiovascular strain can induce a heart attack, where blood flow to the heart is blocked, leading to heart muscle damage.
Hyperthermia: Dangerous overheating of the body, known as hyperthermia, can occur as the body struggles to regulate temperature under the influence of speed.

These complications can be fatal. If you suspect someone is overdosing on speed, immediate action is critical. Call emergency services (911 in the US, 000 in Australia, 999 in the UK) for an ambulance without delay. Emergency responders are primarily concerned with providing medical assistance and are not obligated to involve law enforcement in overdose situations.

Speed-Induced Psychosis: A Severe Mental Health Risk

High doses and frequent use of speed can precipitate amphetamine-induced or stimulant psychosis. This condition closely resembles schizophrenia, characterized by severe disturbances in thought and perception. Key symptoms of psychosis include:

Hallucinations: Experiencing sensory perceptions that are not real, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not present.
Violent and Aggressive Behavior: Psychosis can lead to uncharacteristic violent and aggressive behavior, posing a risk to both the individual and those around them.

It’s important to note that psychosis symptoms related to speed use are typically reversible. In most cases, these symptoms subside and disappear once the person ceases speed consumption and the drug is cleared from their system. However, in some vulnerable individuals, stimulant use might trigger or unmask a more persistent psychotic disorder.

Can Speed Cause Long-Term Problems? The Cumulative Impact

Prolonged and chronic speed use can result in a range of serious long-term health problems, affecting both physical and mental well-being.

Physical health consequences of long-term speed abuse can include:

Extreme Weight Loss: Chronic appetite suppression and increased metabolism can lead to severe weight loss and malnutrition.
Heart and Kidney Problems: Sustained cardiovascular stress can result in chronic heart conditions and kidney damage, potentially leading to organ failure.
Dental Problems: Poor oral hygiene, teeth grinding, and dry mouth contribute to significant dental issues, including tooth decay and gum disease (“meth mouth”).
Stroke: Long-term high blood pressure and vascular damage increase the risk of stroke in chronic speed users.
Increased Risk of Infections: Intravenous speed use significantly elevates the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis infections due to shared needles and risky injection practices.

Moreover, there is a strong association between long-term speed use and various mental health issues. Many of these issues are linked to both the comedown period and the cumulative effects of chronic use:

Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Long-term speed use can disrupt brain chemistry, increasing vulnerability to chronic depression and anxiety disorders, which may persist even after cessation of drug use.
Sleep Disorders: Chronic insomnia and other sleep disturbances can become entrenched patterns in long-term users, impacting overall health and mental well-being.
Paranoia, Hallucinations, and Confusion: Even in the absence of acute intoxication or comedown, persistent paranoia, hallucinations, and cognitive confusion can develop as a result of long-term brain changes.
Irritability, Mood Swings, and Panic Attacks: Emotional instability, characterized by heightened irritability, unpredictable mood swings, and increased susceptibility to panic attacks, is common in chronic speed users.
Memory and Concentration Problems: Long-term speed use can impair cognitive functions, leading to difficulties with memory, concentration, and overall cognitive processing speed.
Violent Behavior: Chronic use can contribute to increased aggression and violent tendencies in some individuals, potentially linked to underlying neurological changes and impaired impulse control.

What If I Use Other Drugs or Alcohol Together with Speed? Polydrug Use Risks

Combining speed with other substances, particularly alcohol or other drugs, significantly escalates the risks associated with drug use. The interactions between different substances can be unpredictable and dangerous.

For instance, mixing speed, a stimulant, with depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines can mask the effects of either substance, leading users to consume higher doses than they otherwise would. This can increase the risk of overdose from either substance and place extreme stress on the body as it attempts to process conflicting signals.

Furthermore, individuals may use other drugs to manage the unpleasant side effects of speed, such as using sedatives to counteract insomnia or anxiety. This practice, known as polydrug use, can lead to dependence on multiple substances simultaneously, creating a more complex and challenging addiction profile.

Can I Become Dependent on Speed? Understanding Addiction

Yes, dependence on speed is a significant risk associated with regular use. Over time, the body can develop tolerance to speed, meaning that a user needs to consume increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same desired effects initially experienced with smaller doses. This escalating pattern of use is a hallmark of developing tolerance.

Beyond tolerance, psychological and physical dependence can develop, leading to addiction. Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite negative consequences. Individuals struggling with speed addiction may:

Spend a significant amount of time preoccupied with obtaining and using speed.
Prioritize drug use over essential responsibilities and commitments in their life, work, and relationships.
Feel unable to function normally or cope with daily life without using speed.

Dependence manifests when the body and brain adapt to the regular presence of speed. Attempting to stop or reduce speed use can then trigger withdrawal symptoms, which are the body’s reaction to the absence of the drug.

Speed withdrawal symptoms can be intensely unpleasant and contribute to the difficulty of quitting. Common withdrawal symptoms include:

Cravings for Speed: Intense urges and desires to use speed are a primary driving force behind continued use during withdrawal.
Increased Appetite: In contrast to appetite suppression during speed use, withdrawal often brings about a rebound increase in appetite.
Confusion and Irritability: Cognitive and emotional disturbances, including confusion, disorientation, and heightened irritability, are common.
Exhaustion and Sleep Difficulties: Severe fatigue and persistent insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns are typical withdrawal symptoms.
Vivid Dreams and Nightmares: Disturbed sleep can be accompanied by vivid and often unpleasant dreams or nightmares.
Anxiety, Depression, and Paranoia: Pre-existing mental health issues can be exacerbated, and new-onset anxiety, depression, and paranoia are common during withdrawal.
Body Aches and Pains: Physical discomfort, including muscle aches, pains, and general malaise, can contribute to the overall unpleasantness of withdrawal.

The majority of speed withdrawal symptoms typically subside within a week, with gradual improvement thereafter. However, the psychological cravings and some emotional symptoms can linger for longer periods, highlighting the importance of comprehensive support during recovery.

How Can I Stop Using Speed? Seeking Help and Finding Recovery

Quitting speed can be a challenging process due to the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and the addictive nature of the drug. If you are struggling with speed use and desire to stop, seeking professional medical help is a crucial first step. Consulting with your doctor is highly recommended. They can:

Help manage withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively, potentially prescribing medications to alleviate specific symptoms.
Advise on appropriate treatment options based on your individual needs and circumstances.
Provide referrals to addiction specialists, counselors, therapists, and support groups.
Facilitate access to inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation programs if necessary.

Several treatment and support options are available for individuals seeking to overcome speed addiction:

Support Groups: Peer support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), provide a valuable community and shared experience for individuals in recovery.
Counseling and Therapy: Individual and group therapy sessions with addiction counselors or therapists can provide coping strategies, address underlying issues contributing to drug use, and support long-term recovery. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Contingency Management are examples of evidence-based therapies effective in stimulant addiction treatment.
Addiction Specialists: Working with addiction specialists, including psychiatrists and addiction medicine physicians, can provide tailored treatment plans and medical management of addiction.
Inpatient Detox and Rehabilitation: For individuals with severe dependence or complex needs, inpatient detoxification programs offer medically supervised withdrawal management in a safe and supportive environment. Following detox, inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programs provide structured therapy, counseling, and relapse prevention strategies.

Resources and Support: Where to Find Help

Numerous resources are available to provide information, support, and treatment for speed use and addiction.

For further information on the effects of drug use in general, the ‘What are the effects of taking drugs?‘ resource on the Department of Health website is a valuable starting point.

To understand the broader impact of drugs and alcohol on health and to find local help and support services, resources focusing on ‘drugs and alcohol can impact your health‘ offer comprehensive guidance.

If you are unsure about the level of care needed or want to assess your situation, healthdirect’s Symptom Checker can provide advice on appropriate healthcare steps, ranging from self-care strategies to seeking professional help or emergency medical attention.

For specific support and information related to speed use, consider reaching out to:

Support for Injecting Behavior: Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs)

For individuals who inject speed, Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs) are crucial harm reduction services. NSPs provide access to sterile needles and syringes, significantly reducing the risk of blood-borne disease transmission, such as HIV and hepatitis C, associated with sharing injecting equipment. These programs are sometimes referred to as ‘needle exchange’ programs.

NSPs operate in various settings, including pharmacies, community health centers, and through vending machines in some areas, enhancing accessibility for those who need them.

To locate a Needle and Syringe Program in your area, resources like the healthdirect Service Finder can be utilized. Search using keywords like ‘needle’ to find local services.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — You can also find a local Needle and Syringe Program using the healthdirect Service Finder. Select ‘By name’ and type ‘needle’ into the search bar.

Conclusion: Taking Action for Health and Recovery

Speed drug, despite being a less potent form of methamphetamine than ice, poses significant risks to physical and mental health. From the immediate side effects to the dangers of overdose, psychosis, and long-term health complications, the consequences of speed use can be severe. Addiction to speed is a real and challenging condition, but recovery is possible.

Recognizing the signs of speed use, understanding the risks, and knowing where to find help are critical steps in addressing this issue. If you or someone you know is struggling with speed use, remember that support and treatment are available. Reaching out to healthcare professionals and utilizing available resources can pave the path towards recovery and a healthier future.