Stimulants

Amphetamine sulphate & base

Drug group - Stimulants

Street names
Speed, amph, whizz, sulph, sulphate,

Drug effect
Strong stimulant (upper). Effects last 3-4 hours.

Description
White/yellow crystalline powder, tablets, rocks

Street use
Swallowed, sniffed and injected

Dependency
Yes - mainly psychological

Withdrawal
Tolerance to amphetamine sulphate develops rapidly and users can increase the dose by 50-fold. Withdrawal is divided into two phases. The immediate crash or rebound lasts 2-3 weeks and is characterised by hunger, extreme fatigue and long periods of disturbed sleep. In the second phase, heavy users become irritable, and depressed (sometimes severely). This phase can last for weeks and sometimes months.

Long term use
Excessive restlessness and insomnia, weight loss, amphetamine psychosis (hallucinations and paranoid thinking)
If injected - circulatory problems, infection risk

Overdose
Death from overdose is possible with very large doses but extremely rare. Overdose risk increases if amphetamine is mixed with drugs such as opiates, barbiturates or alcohol.

Legal status
Class B, Schedule 2
Class A if prepared for injection
Illegal to possess and to supply to others

Maximum Penalty
Class A: Possession - 7 years, Supplying - Life
Class B: Possession - 5 years, Supplying - 14 years