Quick info
Amphetamine belongs to the group of stimulants and is classified as a phenethylamine. The term speed is usually understood to mean a mixture of caffeine and amphetamine.
The release of the endogenous neurotransmitters noradrenalin and dopamine produced by the use of amphetamine can cause a feeling of increased performance, an increase in self-esteem, an increase in body temperature, the suppression of tiredness, hunger and thirst, an increased willingness to take risks and a suppressed feeling of pain, and can lead to euphoria as well as an increased urge to talk (babble flash).
Because of the varying purity (the amphetamine content varies from almost 0 % to almost 100 %!), dosing is difficult and the risk of overdose is high. Doses of more than 25 mg of pure amphetamine increase the negative effects. A dose of 50 mg/night should be the maximum, whether snorted or swallowed.
Appearance
Mostly white, beige to yellowish powder or paste, rarely filled in capsules or in pill form.
Amphetamine pastes have long been considered a particularly concentrated form of amphetamine, as they were believed to be purer as well as caffeine-free and to come directly from the manufacturing lab. In fact, however, these "pastes" are relatively chemically impure because they are not purified or are insufficiently purified in the manufacturing laboratory or, as suspected in most samples, consist of moistened amphetamine salt-caffeine mixtures. It is suspected that the sale in paste form in Switzerland is mainly used to pretend a better quality to the consumers and also serves as an extender. The solvents or the liquids used as extender are highly volatile - the substance dries relatively quickly in air. Thus, the paste can be snorted despite moisture. It is not yet clear which liquid extender is involved. A single substance or a mixture consisting of water, ethanol, acetone and potentially harmful methyl alcohol would be possible. Due to the toxicity of these solvents, amphetamine pastes should always be well dried before consumption. However, the substance may still contain potentially harmful solvent residues.
Real amphetamine paste is amphetamine base that has not been converted, or has been incompletely converted, to a salt such as hydrochloride or sulfate. It smells like decaying fish (amine-like), is rather waxy and difficult to consume nasally, since real paste is sticky and can be poorly absorbed through the mucous membranes. It is moistened with, for example, phenylacetone or isopropyl alcohol (phenylacetone or isopropyl alcohol are possible starting materials in amphetamine synthesis).
Onset of effect
Snuffed: after 2 - 10 minutes
Swallowed: after 30 - 45 minutes
Sprayed: already after a few seconds
Duration of action
Snorted and swallowed: 6 - 12 hours
Injected: 4 - 6 hours. Amphetamine is poorly broken down in the body.
Tremors, restlessness, nausea, palpitations and cardiac arrhythmias, sleep disturbances, headaches, nervousness, irritability, loss of appetite, aggressive behaviour and, in combination with alcohol, danger of alcohol poisoning. At high doses: hallucinations, circulatory failure, strokes as well as kidney, liver and heart failure and states of deep unconsciousness. An often underestimated danger is the rise in body temperature, which can lead to dehydration of the body. In high doses, acute amphetamine psychosis can occur. Signs of this are hallucinations in the form of colour spots and with features of schizophrenia. The risk of such an acute mental disorder increases with consumption over several days and/or if high doses are taken and food intake and sleep are neglected over a longer period of time. Such an experience usually normalises after sufficient sleep. During and after coming down: extreme need for sleep, exhaustion, strong feeling of hunger,depressive mood, irritability, etc.
Long-term risks
There is a risk of dependence with psychological symptoms, especially if use takes on a (performance-enhancing) function in everyday life (e.g. at work) or physical/psychological exhaustion is combated with amphetamine. Frequent use of amphetamine not infrequently leads to physical deficiency symptoms (e.g. calcium deficiency, which can lead to bone and dental problems) and to psychological problems such as dejection or listlessness. Regular and high-dose use can lead to constant restlessness (but also persistent fatigue), sleep and circulatory disorders, and anxiety disorders, up to and including persistent amphetamine psychosis with paranoid delusions. In addition, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, weight loss, skin inflammation ("speed pimples"), stomach problems as well as liver and kidney damage and convulsions are possible. Snorting damages the nasal mucous membranes and the nasal septum, and swallowing damages the stomach mucous membranes. Chronic consumption also favors brain hemorrhages and strokes with sudden paralysis.
Dose low. Think about how long you want to be awake before you take it! Do not suppress your need for sleep.
The lowest-risk form of amphetamine use is to swallow it ("Bömbeli").
Eat enough after consumption to prevent weight loss.
Drink enough (non-alcoholic drinks).
Take extra vitamin C and D and minerals (iron, calcium and magnesium) with frequent use.
Observe the safer sniffing rules.
Refrain from mixed consumption! Make sure to take breaks from consumption.
Mentally ill persons, persons with high blood pressure, liver and kidney diseases, diabetics and pregnant women should refrain from using amphetamines.
It is better not to wear headgear (danger of overheating!).
Amphetamine pastes should always be well dried before consumption.
In both powders and pastes, the amphetamine is chemically present as sulphate. Pastes were not sufficiently dried after production or were subsequently brought into paste form with a liquid extender. These liquid extenders are solvents (e.g. isopropyl alcohol or phenylacetone) which are toxic. Therefore, amphetamine pastes should always be well dried before consumption!
LSD analogues are substances that are chemically very similar to LSD and can have comparable effects. Some of them have been known for a long time (e.g. ALD52, ETH-LAD, AL-LAD, PRO-LAD etc.) and have been studied pharmacologically as well as psychopharmacologically, at least in part. Others are newer "creations" (e.g. the derivatives 1P-LSD,1B-LSD, 1cP-LSD, 1V-LSDetc.), for which only few or no data are available. Certain LSD analogues can (still) be legally produced, traded and consumed in some countries, which is the main reason for their distribution.
Most LSD analogues are naturally different from LSD in their effect and/or potency (e.g. ETH-LAD, AL-LAD, LSZ etc.). In contrast, the so-called 1-acylated LSD compounds (e.g. 1P-LSD, 1V-LSD, 1B-LSD, ALD-52, etc.) are presumed, on the basis of pharmacological studies, to convert into LSD in the body (they function as so-called prodrugs) and thus have a comparable psychoactive effect to LSD.
In the case of prodrugs of LSD and LSD analogues, it has not been conclusively clarified whether, in addition to their psychoactive effect, they can produce other pharmacological effects. How potent these prodrugs are compared to the resulting substance (e.g., 1P-LSD to LSD), and to what extent a delay in onset of action occurs in each case, may be substance-dependent and cannot be generalized. Therefore, it is important to approach the dose/effect carefully to avoid overdoses.
Amphetamine samples may contain a variety of substances that originate in the manufacturing process. They are referred to as synthesis impurities or synthesis by-products. Their presence depends on the manufacturing process as well as on the effort made to purify the manufactured amphetamine at the end.
Each synthesis impurity represents an unknown health risk: the properties hazardous to health have never been scientifically studied and are therefore difficult to estimate. The more different synthesis impurities are contained in a sample, the greater the probability that an impurity with a high adverse health effect is among them. Even a small amount of such an impurity can be harmful. In addition, synthetic impurities are an indication of improper manufacturing/purification. It is also important to add that regular use of amphetamine with synthetic impurities poses a higher health risk than one-time use.
If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or alcohol, call an ambulance on 144. Tell the emergency responders everything you know.
It could save lives.