Rehab amphetamines, what are we dealing with? Amphetamine is a synthetic drug. The active ingredient of the ephedra plant is ephedrine. Amphetamine is chemically counterfeit ephedrine. It is usually in powder form (white, pink, yellow), but can also be in capsules or pills.
What is amphetamine?
There are left- and right-handed amphetamines:
- methamphetamine / Meth (left-handed, right-handed and mixed)
- crystal / Crystal meth (methamphetamine in crystal form)
- ice (right-handed methamphetamine in crystal form)
- l-amphetamine (left-handed amphetamine)
- dextro-amphetamine (clockwise amphetamine)
- yaba (left and right-handed methamphetamine in pill form)
What is the difference between crystal meth (methamphetamine) and speed (amphetamine)?
Speed is not the same as crystal meth. They are two different types of drugs. The drugs are very similar and are therefore sometimes mixed up.
Speed and crystal meth give most users more energy and self-confidence. The user often feels happy, wants to do activities or likes to talk a lot. The big difference between speed and crystal meth is that crystal meth works a lot stronger. The user needs to take less for the same effect, the effect is stronger and the effect lasts longer. Speed works 4-8 hours and crystal meth 8-12 hours. Also, crystal meth seems to be more damaging to the brain than speed.
It is sometimes thought that someone who uses crystal meth once is immediately addicted. This is usually not true. However, a person can become addicted to crystal meth quickly. Users are more likely to become addicted to crystal meth than to speed. This is due to the fast and strong effects of crystal meth. Also, crystal meth is more often smoked or injected. Smoking and injecting are more addictive than snorting or swallowing.
What are other names for amphetamine?
Other names for amphetamine are speed, pep, S, fast, rap, dusty sand, bomb.
Brand names of amphetamine are: Benzedrine, Biphentamine, Dexedrine and Dexamyl (dextroamphetamine). Brand name for methamphetamine is: Pervitine (“perf”).
How does amphetamine work?
Amphetamine is very is an uplifting and works on the central nervous system. It makes you feel energetic, cheerful and confident. This effect occurs because your brain produces extra dopamine and norepinephrine (NE). But afterwards you feel a big dip because your body develops a shortage of these substances.
Amphetamine is especially psychologically addictive. You can’t seem to get through the day without it. But it also damages your body. You use your reserves and exhaust your body. You also sleep badly and your appetite decreases. The resistance also decreases a lot, so you get sick faster. With daily use you quickly become addicted. Cutting yourself off from speed is difficult without the right help.
The best known dangers of an amphetamine overdose are:
- overheating
- exhaustion and extreme emaciation
- heart failure and convulsions
- brain or stomach bleeding
- coma
Rehab amphetamines: Physical rehab symptoms of amphetamine
You get used to the psychological effects of amphetamine. As a result, you need more and more to still feel the effects. Some users develop depressive feelings after a while. The more and the longer you use, the greater the chance of depression. There are also symptoms such:
- fatigue.
- lethargy.
- difficulty moving.
- difficulty speaking.
- trouble sleeping.
- (muscle) pain and general malaise (similar to flu).
- stomach and intestinal problems.
- once your appetite returns and you start eating again, your body (which has gone into survival mode during your addiction) will store much of what you take in as fat. This can result in weight gain.
Rehab amphetamines: Psychological withdrawal symptoms from amphetamine
In addition to physical symptoms, you may also experience psychological and emotional symptoms. The psychological withdrawal symptoms of speed can be very intense and unpleasant.
- vivid nightmares.
- anxiety.
- irritability
- social problems.
- obsessive thoughts.
- depression.
How long do the withdrawal symptoms last?
If you are severely addicted to speed, you may experience withdrawal symptoms as soon as six hours after the last use. The intensity and duration of these withdrawal symptoms depend on how long you have been addicted and how much speed you have used during that period. Physical withdrawal symptoms peak in two to ten days after quitting, after which they gradually subside. However, the psychological and emotional withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks or months. In some cases, people even suffer from them (to a greater or lesser extent) for years.
Amphetamine addiction treatment
If you are struggling with a speed addiction, it can be very difficult to find a way out. But you are not alone. Sustainable recovery from speed addiction is indeed possible with professional treatment. Our specialists have ample experience within the addiction treatment industry. They use their expertise to identify and treat your addiction and its underlying issues. They know like no other what you are going through and they also put all the professional efforts for your lasting recovery from a speed addiction.
