Quick info
Amphetamine is a synthetically produced stimulant that belongs to the phenethylamine group of substances. Amphetamine causes a release of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain and thus has a euphoric and stimulating effect. A mixture of caffeine and amphetamine is usually sold under the name speed or pep. Medical amphetamines are used, among other things, in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Release of the body's neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Increase in self-esteem, increase in body temperature, suppression of hunger and need for sleep, feeling of increased performance, increased willingness to take risks, suppressed feeling of pain, euphoria and increased urge to talk (babble flash).
The perceived effect and duration of action is very individual for each person. Important factors in how amphetamine affects a person are dosage, frequency of use, experience of use, set and setting.
Onset of effect
Snorted: after 2 - 10 minutes
Swallowed: after 15 - 120 minutes (much faster on an empty stomach than on a full one)
Injected: after just a few seconds
Duration of action
Snorted 3 - 6 hours
Swallowed: 4 - 12 hours (amphetamine is poorly broken down in the body)
Injected: 4 - 6 hours. Amphetamine is poorly broken down in the body.
Cache effects
Up to 24 hours (snorted and swallowed).
Due to the varying purity (the amphetamine content of street amphetamine can vary greatly!), dosing is difficult and the risk of unintentional overdose is high. Dosages of more than 25 mg of pure amphetamine increase the negative effects; a dose of 50 mg within 12 hours should not be exceeded.
Snuffed
light: 10-25 mg
medium: 25-40 mg
strong: 40-75 mg
Swallowed
light: 10-20 mg
medium: 20-50 mg
strong: 50-70 mg
Appearance
White, beige, yellowish or pinkish 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).
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
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!
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.
