Amphetamine
is a 1-phenylpropan-2-amine with a
molecular formula of C9H13N. It has a
molecular weight of 135.20622 g/mol with one covalently-bonded unit count. The
adderal has a boiling point of 200-203 degree centigrade at 760 mm Hg, with
slight solubility in water but soluble in ethanol chloroform. It is a type of
powerful stimulant of central nervous
system (CNS) that may be prescribed by a specialized person (physician) to
block dopamine and uptake of adrenergics, helping in the release and inhibiting of monamines oxidation.
Amphetamine, sometimes are obtained illegally for the purpose of addiction or
abuse. When amphetamines are legally prescribed, it may be used to treat
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and treatment-
resistant depression. The physicians in the past were using the amphetamines
for appetite suppression among obese and overweight individuals, but with the
exception of Phentermine even though it was medically not recognized.
There are illegal
amphetamines and legal amphetamines, which are prescribed by a doctor. Like dextroamphetamine,
legal amphetamines are made by pharmaceutical companies and are in most cases prescribed
certain disorders that include ADHD and narcolepsy. The illegal amphetamines
are usually manufactured secretly in laboratories where they are diluted with
different substances to increase profits. This means the individual using these
illegal amphetamines has no idea regarding the strength or weakness of the
dosage and whether it contains harmful fillers like quinine or talcum powder.
In the streets amphetamine is referred as speed, crystal or ice. They usually
come as tablets, and powder form in most cases, amphetamine is sometimes added
with other substance; they can as well be snorted, swallowed and even smoked.
The daily intake of amphetamines varies depending on the individual’s usage
patterns, the type of amphetamine, as well as the way, is it taken.
Although
every drug abuse creates damage, amphetamine abuse creates some of the most
serious effects of drug abuse. Amphetamine effects, and the duration the effect
last depends on the blend of the chemical, the strength of the dosage and the
state of mind and physical make up of the individual taking the stimulant. Since
they are physical stimulant, amphetamines increase alertness, suppress fatigue,
gives the users the false impression of invincibility and causes the feeling of
intense well- being. The effects look like those of cocaine.It lasts in the
body many hours after the intake. When this stimulant enters the brain, they
cause instant, a large increase in the dopamine amount till the provisions of neurotransmitters, are worn
out. This leads to disturbances in the functioning of the brain.
The intake of
amphetamines also causes prolonged sleeplessness and malnutrition. This leads
to an overall deterioration, exhaustion, nervousness as well as serious
psychological problem which includes agitation, excitability anxiety, irritability,
psychoses, paranoid personality disorder, mood disorder, and panic. Serious
skin problems also occur, e.g. outbreak of skin inflammation and spots. When
amphetamine effects start to wear out, it may be a complex situation since it
brings about symptoms such as depression, anxiety, the risk of suicide,
clenched jaws, and tetany. When taking alcohol or other psychoactive substances
such as ecstasy alongside amphetamine, it increases the risk of neurotoxicity.
These may result in a toxic nervous system, getting a stroke, heart attack as
well as leading to excessive drinking that has additional liabilities. The amphetamines
body effects can be grouped as long term
and short term . The mind and the system intergrating sensory information are
stimulated to pace up other systems of the body.
The short term
effects are an increased body temperature, Failure of the cardiovascular
system, Hostility or agitation, increased respiration, increased feeling of
power, and greatness or great competence.
In building
tolerance and increasing trust, this stimulant can be risky for users as they
end becoming addicted seriously to this stimulant,since it poses a health risk
for the individuals using it. With constant abuse, the effects can result in
coma even possible death. The regular misuse generates a neurosis that looks
like schizophrenia and characterized by fear, obsessed with an individual’s judgment,
hearing and illustration . The effects
of this drug differ, however the wrong use of amphetamine cannot be taken
lightly. It is mentally addictive, and an overdose can lead to a total damage
or change the negative deed of the individual conduct to transform his/her life
forever.
Long- term effects of this stimulant include.
Malnutrition: Since the effect of
amphetamine is the loss of desire for food, this result to a great decrease in
weight and poor habits of eating. When an individual is not eating food rich in
nutrients, he starts to feel exhausted and frequently dizzy. When undernourishment
is left for long untreated, it may cause mental or physical illness that may
result in death.
Hallucinations: This is caused by the
continued use of amphetamine. It makes an individual to start seeing things and
hearing voices which are not real. Also, it can result to amphetamine psychosis
that is like schizophrenic symptom and behavior.
Sexual behavior change: The long
use of amphetamine can lead to lowered sexual action, but even more regularly greater than before sexual
promiscuity that can lead to unprotected sex and risky behavior. This increases
the chances of a person getting sexually transmitted diseases
Seizures: This makes an individual
to experience uncontrollable shaking of the body that causes the twitching of strength
and the failure of the bladder
regulation.
Coma: The long term use of
amphetamine can lead to unconsciousness that is usually from misuse of the
amphetamine drug. This can result to a permanent physical damage or
psychologically, and this has a fatal consequence if an individual doesn’t
recover from this effect.
Relationships: In relationships
people who regularly use amphetamine, finds themselves in arguments with their
partners, leadings to fights and even break up.
Work or study: The abuse of
amphetamine leads to addiction, which makes an individual to experience many
troubles in concentrating and reduced performance.
Financial problem such as debt
encounters the addicted individuals, because of an inability to hold down a job
or from spending money for amphetamines.
These are a number of the well-
known long-term effects of amphetamine misuse. Some individuals may not at all
experience some of these effects as people are never the same, and this depends
on the quantity of the stimulant used and the period an individual has used the
drug.
The amphetamines also may cause
psychological effects that are very hurting and tough for many individuals to cope
with. It occurs after an individual feels that he cannot function normally
without the drug. This is because amphetamine has changed the body and brain
chemistry, hence causing the serious psychological effects which include:
Anxiety
/Paranoia: It is one of the mental effects of amphetamines drug where the
hormones are increased in the body of individual using the drug. When it
reaches the central nervous system, it causes a person to feel nervous
about some other activities and
people.
Social
disorders: It starts after the anxiety and paranoia where an individual wants
to be unaccompanied or be in small groups of people when undergoing through withdrawal.
And this may have severe levels of social disorder if the person already had a
social anxiety problem.
Obsessive
Behavior: This is another psychological effect where an individual obsession
varies depending on the situation. Some become fanatical over what they posses
as those who have nervousness and suspicion. This is common to those people who
greatly depend on the amphetamines so that they can have a quick mood change
which triggers obsessive behaviors.
Aggression/violent
behavior: They are other amphetamines psychological effects where an
individual’s body greatly depends on the drug to function. When an individual
is withdrawing off the drug, hostility, and brutal behavior may start.
Amphetamines also make an individual to lose sex drive.
The Amphetamine can make an individual to have
a feeling of confusion and start to have difficulties in learning new things.
Even though this drug is known to be” upper”, it can cause learning to be
difficult due to huge amounts of the substance in the brain. Persons, who have
used the drug for a long period, may experience a sense of over-excitement that
turns into nervousness making a person experiment the drug. An individual can
also take the drug at different period of the day to observe its effects. Use
of Amphetamine may make some people to start losing friends, some may stop
going to work and engage in behaviors that are risky. There isn’t a safe level
of amphetamine use. Using any drug normally carries risk, even if a specialized
person gives it, and it can produce unwanted side effects. It is critical for people
to be cautious when taking any medicine.
Work cited
Moore,
Elaine A. The Amphetamine Debate: The Use of Adderall, Ritalin, and Related
Drugs for Behavior Modification, Neuroenhancement and Anti-Aging Purposes.
Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co, 2011. Internet resource
Pates,
Richard, and Diane Riley. Interventions for Amphetamine Misuse.
Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Internet resource
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