Amphetamines  : 

•  Presentation : Amphetamines usually come as tablets or capsules and are ingested, snorted or injected, after crushing the tablets, or extracting the powder in the capsules.

•  Effets : Users are looking for appetite suppressant effects (amphetamines taken orally), and the euphoric high delivered when used by intravenous injection. Down effects caused by the use of amphetamines include psychiatric troubles such as persecution mania, or lunacy with depression. Clinical symptoms for amphetamine use are the following: higher blood pressure, increased sweating, higher breathing rate, cephalalgia and dryness of the mouth.

As for the behaviour, logorrhoea, aggressive restlessness with risk of acting out, paranoid mania, and even, in some cases, mental disorders with symptoms similar to psychosis (hallucinations…) can be observed. Prolonged consumption can lead to serious nutritional deficiency disorders with asthenia. Neuronal damage is considerable and can lead to serious neurological disorders.

•  Dependence : Amphetamine use causes substantial psychological dependence.

• Overdosing : Mainly observed when used intravenously and can lead to collapse and coma.

• Therapeutical care : Consists of psychotherapy and a treatment with antidepressants, tranquillisers and neuroleptics in the event of psychotic troubles.