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Stimulants
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What are stimulants ?
Stimulants are drugs that excite or speed up the central nervous
system (CNS). They are generally used for their ability to increase
alertness and endurance, to keep people awake for a long period
of time, to decrease appetite, and to produce feelings of well-being
and euphoria1. Stimulants
can produce physical and psychological dependence. The most commonly
used drugs in this class are caffeine, nicotine, cocaine and amphetamines.
Why do people take stimulants ?
They have only limited medical application. In Canada, for example,
they are used in the treatment of narcolepsy, attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Parkinson's Disease, and have had
some very limited use in the treatment of obesity2.
Stimulants are also used for their euphoric effects and/or to
counteract the depressant effects of tranquilizers or alcohol.
Type of stimulants:
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Amphetamines and related compounds |
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- Amphetamine sulfate >> Benzedrine, Biphetamine,
Obetrol
- Dextroamphetamine sulfate >> Dexedrine, Eskatrol
- Methamphetamine >> Crystal Meth, Desoxyn, Methedrine,
Pervitin, Philopo, Speed, Yaba (methamphetamine and caffeine)
- Dextromethamphetamine >> Ice
- MDMA >> 3,4-methylenedioxy-n-methylamphetamine
>> Ecstacy (See also hallucinogens)
- 4-Methylaminorex
Related compounds
- Fenetylline >> Captagon
- Methylphenidate >> Ritalin
- Para-Methoxy-Amphetamine >> 4-MA, PMA (Sometimes
sold as Ecstasy - see also hallucinogens)
- Pemoline >> Cylert
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Cocaine * |
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Methylxanthines (methylated purines) |
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- Aaminophylline
- Caffeine >> Coffee, Tea, Cola beverages, Maté
- Theobromine >> Cocoa
- Theophylline >> Tea
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Nicotine |
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- Tobacco >> Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipe Tobacco
- Chewing Tobacco
- Snuff
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Other Stimulants |
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Appetite Suppressants & Anorexiants
- Benzphetamine >> Didrex
- Diethylpropion >> Tenuate
- Mazindol
- Phendimetrazine
- Phenmetrazine >> Preludin
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Phentermine >> Ionamil
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* Both cocaine and crack share many of the same properties as
stimulants and are therefore listed above with other stimulants.
Cocaine is however classified under the Controlled Substances
Act (CSA) (United States) as a narcotic,
so you can get more information there too.
Stimulants are also known as:
Aimies, Bennies, Black beauties, Diet pills, Meth, Smokes, Speed,
more
...
How are stimulants taken
?
Stimulants can be taken orally in pill form, inhaled nasally,
smoked, or injected.
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What are the possible effects
of stimulant use ?
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- Agitation, excessive activity, talkativeness, overconfidence,
euphoria
- Irritability, argumentativeness or nervousness
- Enhanced concentration, suppressed tiredness
- A feeling of restlessness, anxiety
- Headache
- Excessive perspiration
- Increased blood pressure and/or respiratory rates, reduced
body temperature
- Heart palpitations, rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Dilated pupils, irritation of eyes and nose, blurred vision,
delusions
- Decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea
- Coughing
- Cramps, diarrhea
- Loss of coordination, tremors in the hands, dizziness,
collapse
Chronic / long term use may cause:
- Increased aggressiveness, panic attacks, seizures
- Bronchitis, nausea, vomiting
- Cancer of the throat and/or lungs
- Long periods without sleeping or eating
- Increased heart rate, chest pain, cardio vascular diseases
- Toxic delirium, tremors, terminal seizures
- Psychotic features, hallucinations
- Hypertension, irregular breathing
- Dermatosis
- Stroke, death
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What are the risks associated
with pregnancy and stimulants use ?
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Symptoms of stimulant overdose:
- Agitation
- Increase in body temperature
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Possible death
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Withdrawal symptoms:
After a 2-3 day binge
- Dysphoric (feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)
- Exhaustion
- Somnolent (sleepy, drowsy) for 24 to 48 hours.
After chronic, high dose use
- Irritability/anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- Intense dreaming
- Apathy
- Increased appetite/cravings
- Long periods of sleep
- Disorientation
- Dermatosis
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Formication (cocaine bugs), Psychosis
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Death
The symptoms subside over 2 to 4 days of drug abstinence.
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For further information on
stimulants, we have included these links :
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Full text - Articles, booklets and fact sheets:
Web sites:
If you know of a good resource, feel free to
recommend it by sending
us a link and we will do our best to add it.
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References:
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- Health Canada "Stimulants"
(P.15) from " Straight Facts About Drugs"
(2000) Publication # H39-65/2000e. < http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cds/pdf/straight_facts.pdf
> [June 03, 2003]
- Ibid. (p.15).
- Fox, Norm., Pharm. D. "ADS 4 Physiology and Pharmacology
of Chemical Dependency : CNS Stimulants" (Chapter 7)
February 13, 2003. Butte College Alcohol and Drugs Studies
Program < http://www.butte.cc.ca.us/instruction/socbehsci/ads/cns.htm
> [May 03, 2003]
- Hazen, David M. "Stimulants : Abuse and Recovery"
Inner comm (Dec 1997)
< http://www.cyberis.net/~innercom/TxDocs/stimulants.html
> [May 3, 2003]
- Scientific Section (Laboratory), Policy Development and
Analysis Branch, Division for Operations and Analysis "
Synthetic CNS Stimulants " Terminology and Information
on Drugs (1998) United Nations, Office onDrugs and
Crime. < http://www.unodc.org/unodc/report_1998-10-01_1_page020.html
> [June 06, 2003]
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
(NCADI). "NCADI: Drugs of Abuse".
Inventory # RP0926. NCADI: SAMHSA's The National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information - PREVLINE
<http://www.health.org/govpubs/rpo926/>
[March 01, 2003]
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "DEA
Briefs & Backgrounds : Drugs & Drug Abuse, Drug
Descriptions, Stimulants." <http://www.dea.gov/concern/stimulants.html>
[March 10, 2003]
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For further information, check
out our Youth
Resources page.
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