One of the settings where drugs are most commonly used is when partying. Many times, fun and letting loose take over at times when having a good time is the only goal. Drugs can help achieve these momentary states of euphoria and pleasure, even though the long-term consequences can be very negative. Young people and teenagers are the main users of these types of substances when they are out partying. One of the most popular drugs in these settings is speed, a methamphetamine with a high addictive potential.
What is Speed?
Also known as “pinini” or “pitxu”, speed is actually amphetamine sulfate and belongs to the phenethylamine family. This drug is easily manufactured in clandestine laboratories using products that can be obtained without a prescription. It is the most widely used synthetic drug after MDMA, and one of the substances whose use has spread most rapidly among young people. It is a central nervous system stimulant that produces a feeling of euphoria.
It is usually found as a white, crystalline, odourless powder with a bitter taste. However, it can also appear as a paste and in the form of tablets or capsules. The most common way to use the substance is by snorting it, although oral use is also possible. A line of speed is usually smaller than a line of cocaine. This is because this methamphetamine takes effect with small doses. Even so, the dose will depend on the person and their level of tolerance.
Effects of Speed
The effects produced by speed use depend on the route by which the substance has been taken. Thus, if it is snorted, the effects appear within a few minutes. By contrast, orally, they will take longer. Symptoms usually last between four and six hours, and the most common are:
- Excitement and well-being
- A desire to talk and socialise
- Reduced feeling of tiredness, fatigue and hunger
- Pupil dilation
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Increased alertness and ability to concentrate
Taking speed increases the concentration of dopamine in the body. This produces the stimulation and feeling of euphoria experienced by the user. On the other hand, tolerance develops very quickly and appears just minutes after use. This causes the pleasurable effects to disappear before the concentration of the drug in the blood drops substantially. In order to maintain the feeling of euphoria for longer, the user takes the drug repeatedly, consolidating a compulsive behaviour.
An important difference from cocaine is that while cocaine is eliminated quickly and is practically completely metabolised in the body, speed has a much longer duration of action. What this causes is that the drug remains in the brain for longer, which leads to a prolongation of the drug’s stimulating effects.
Consequences of Speed use
In addition to the immediate effects seen above, speed use entails symptoms that usually appear during the brain stimulation caused by the drug. These are a series of side effects of varying severity, including:
- Hyperthermia
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Uncontrolled jaw movements
- Seizures
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Difficulty urinating or achieving an erection
When use becomes chronic, the person may present other symptoms such as severe anxiety, confusion, mood changes and even violent behaviour. A series of psychotic features may also appear such as paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions. These psychotic symptoms can sometimes last for months or years after a person has stopped using.
On the other hand, it has been observed that speed use produces significant changes in the brain. Neuroimaging studies have shown alterations in dopamine system activity. These alterations are associated with a decrease in motor speed and impaired verbal learning. Other studies carried out in addicts have also shown significant functional changes in areas of the brain associated with emotion and memory. This would explain many of the emotional and cognitive problems typical of these people.
Risks of Speed use
Depending on the amount of speed taken, a person may suffer intoxication. And, if it is severe, there are several symptoms that can occur: delusions, self-harm, tachycardia, arrhythmia, fever, seizures, coma and respiratory collapse. For this reason, it is very important to know how to act if we are with someone who may be at risk of suffering intoxication. In these cases, it is best to remove the person from the party and try to calm them down to help relieve their anxiety. If the situation is difficult to manage, medical attention will be required.
Another dangerous aspect of speed is the feeling experienced once the effects of its use have worn off, especially when it has been used intensively. In this phase, the addict will experience feelings of sadness, apathy and depression, as well as feeling very tired. Some people may even have suicidal thoughts. In addition, speed creates tolerance quickly, so it is necessary to increase the dose to achieve the same effects. In this sense, the risk of dependence is higher than with other drugs used recreationally.
As with the use of other drugs, if a person has become addicted to a substance, they will require a specific treatment. Over our years of experience helping people and families recover, at CCAdicciones we have managed to combine several types of treatment, creating a specific model. The model at our detox centre maintains a high recovery rate, far above the average of other treatments, with 86% of patients recovered.
