amphetamine

What Is The Difference Between Amphetamine And Methamphetamine?

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DrugRehab.org What is the Difference Between Amphetamine and Methamphetamine_

With so many drugs of abuse available today, it’s easy to get them confused. Amphetamines are a group of central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drugs with psychoactive properties, meaning they affect the mind. The group of amphetamines is comprised by any drugs classified as amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR).

With that stated, methamphetamine is often abused in an illicit form, known as crystal meth. The names of these two drugs are very similar, but abuse of them is quite different and results in differing consequences.

Amphetamine: Definition, Use, And Abuse

As previously mentioned, amphetamine is a stimulant which means it has a stimulating effect on your body. When you take amphetamine, it helps improve your mood and increases alertness. Historically, amphetamines were not prescribed for stimulant effects, but today they help people with a number of medical conditions.

People may take amphetamine for obesity, narcolepsy, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Common brands of amphetamine include Adderall, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, and DextroStat.

DrugRehab.org What is the Difference Between Amphetamine and Methamphetamine_ Are A Group Of Central

Amphetamine is prescribed in pill form, and intended for oral use with a fairly slow release. People who abuse it may crush and snort the powder, combine it with water into a solution and inject it, or smoke it by inhaling vapors.

Abuse of amphetamine can cause a number of side effects, as abuse enhances side effects of the drugs:

  • Increased body temperature
  • Hostility
  • Paranoia
  • Increased blood pressure and/or heart rate
  • Alertness, talkativeness
  • Euphoria
  • Dry mouth
  • Lack of appetite
  • Pupil dilation
  • Heavy breathing
  • Headache or nausea
  • Heart palpitations
  • Tremors
  • Muscle spasms
  • Change in sexual behavior

With prolonged abuse, the severity of these effects worsens and can result in psychosis, psychological issues, behavioral changes, convulsions, coma, or even death.

Methamphetamine: Definition, Use, And Abuse

Methamphetamine is a stimulant within the amphetamine class used to treat obesity and ADHD. While it can be a helpful medication for these conditions when taken as directed, methamphetamine has become a popular drug of abuse. This is especially true of the illicit form, crystal meth.

DrugRehab.org What is the Difference Between Amphetamine and Methamphetamine_ In Pill FormAs with amphetamine, methamphetamine is available under prescription in pill form. When people abuse it, they also crush and snort it, or mix it with water to make a solution to inject. But methamphetamine (commonly called meth) may also be formed into a solid, crystal-like form and smoked.

Meth poses great health and behavioral risks for those who abuse it, similar to amphetamines. Why? The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains, “meth at first causes a rush of good feelings, but then users feel edgy, overly excited, angry or afraid.” The drug is also highly addictive, which means you can develop addiction after abusing it for only a short time.

Some of the most severe problems associated with abuse of methamphetamine include:

  • Increasing body temperature until you faint
  • Severe itching, which can lead to scratching to the point of lesions and, later, infections
  • A condition known as meth mouth, terrible dental and mouth problems including cracked teeth
  • Changes to thought processes
  • Changes to behavior and mood

The Dangers Of Abusing Crystal Meth

If the risk of side effects weren’t alarming enough, abusing the illicit crystal meth can have some consequences that would be hard to undo. One of the greatest of these is the greatly increased risk of overdose when abusing crystal meth.

Meth is a highly addictive drug, but when you smoke a substance instead of taking it a different way (orally, for example) that substance produces quicker results. It’s this rush feeling, the quick feeling of euphoria and other side effects, that really drive development of addiction.

Meth is so potent, the risk of overdose is high even after just a few times taking it. And overdose doesn’t always mean people can simply be treated at a hospital and return to daily life. Overdose of meth can cause heart attack, stroke, or permanent damage to organs—all conditions which can ultimately be fatal.

Addiction to meth is so powerful, it affects not just your health but your life. When you’re living for addiction, your priorities are aligned with seeking use of the drug, and little else. Before meth takes over your life, or worse, we can help you find a treatment plan that will address all your needs. DrugRehab.org can connect you with private, inpatient rehab centers headed by staff with experience who offer caring support.

The Dangers Of Abusing Prescription Drugs

So what do amphetamine and methamphetamine have in common? They are both prescription drugs, or at least they started out that way. This means you have to have a prescription to get the licit forms of the drugs, and abuse should be easily avoided.

Unfortunately, we tend to trust our prescriptions to be safe and free from risk of addiction. But many medications are habit-forming, can foster abuse, and later lead to addiction. This isn’t to say all prescription drugs are bad, but that you have to be very careful when dealing with highly addictive medication.

DrugRehab.org What is the Difference Between Amphetamine and Methamphetamine_ SO What Do Have In Common_

Thousands of people in the nation are addicted to prescription drugs every year, but only a small portion of these people receive care for this issue. Perhaps it seems that abusing prescription drugs isn’t all bad because the prescription will eventually end, but this is rarely the end. Once you become addicted, addiction doesn’t go away because your prescription has ended.

If you can’t refill your script, and begin experiencing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like headache, nausea, or vomiting, you may reach a desperate point. In that time, you likely will not be opposed to trying an alternate drug, even an illicit one. This is how subsequent drug abuse and addiction begins.

Abusing prescription drugs isn’t dangerous just for the length of the prescription, but for the health consequences and repercussions that can follow.

Solutions In Treatment

So what can be done to help those who’ve fallen victim to amphetamine or methamphetamine abuse? Treatment. In fact, treatment is the best solution we have to help people overcome substance abuse and addiction, and it’s proven effective in the lives of thousands every year.

At our rehab centers, you’ll be taken away from the messy environment of addiction and will heal in a welcoming, substance-free environment. In treatment you’ll be surrounded by experts in the field, trained and licensed clinical and medical staff, and peers who are traveling the same healing journey.

Our facilities also provide some of the best evidence-based treatment modalities available. We recognize that each person requires different aspects of treatment. Our programs are as unique as our patients—each treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs. Some of the methods we integrate into treatment plans include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Counseling: group, family, and individual
  • Gender-specific treatment
  • Alternative therapy: Adventure and Wilderness therapy
  • Dual diagnosis treatment
  • Mental health services and treatment
  • Aftercare support

Find Your Treatment Solution Today

Methamphetamine and amphetamine drugs are not drugs you want to experience, but if you are struggling with abuse of them, we can help. It’s not easy to reach out for help, but we’re here to make the process of getting the healing you need as smooth as possible.

Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to learn more about substance abuse, treatment options, and to speak to one of our specialists about getting into a treatment program.

For more information, call now!

For More Information Related to “What Is The Difference Between Amphetamine And Methamphetamine?” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

 

Sources

National Institute On Drug Abuse—DrugFacts: Methamphetamine
U.S. National Library Of Medicine—Substance Use: Amphetamines

Long-Term Effects Of Amphetamine Use And Abuse

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Long Term Effects Of Amphetamine Use And Abuse

With an increasing number of people being diagnosed with behavioral disorders such as ADHD, stimulants are readily prescribed to treat the symptoms of these disorders. Amphetamines, a type of stimulant, are often the medication of choice for treatment.

Prescription drug abuse is a problem on the rise, with more people abusing prescriptions every year, including amphetamine drugs. Abuse can cause both short- and long-term health effects, and to avoid some of the staggering long-term effects, treatment should be sought for victims of abuse.

What Are Amphetamines?

Amphetamines are psychoactive drugs which affect the central nervous system (CNS). As explained by the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), “The basic molecule of amphetamine can be modified to emphasize specific actions—such as appetite suppressant, CNS stimulant, and cardiovascular actions.” Prescription amphetamines are typically in pill form, but when abused, they may be crushed and snorted, or dissolved into water to make a liquid which is then injected, or inhaled after vaporizing the drug.

Long Term Effects Of Amphetamine Use And Abuse Amphetamines

Amphetamines are stimulants, which means they work by producing the release of reward chemicals in the brain which sends these chemicals to the nervous system. This process occurs naturally only when a person experiences pleasure (reward), such as smelling food or seeing someone a person loves. The good chemicals are released during the pleasurable experience then recycled back into the brain. Amphetamines stop this recycling process, resulting in an excess buildup of reward chemicals. This is how those abusing the drug achieve the “high.”

Unfortunately, what people abusing amphetamines may not know is that over time the body may build a tolerance to the effects of the drug. To get the same “high,” a person may take larger and more frequent dosages, which could lead to addiction, overdose, or even a fatality. The risk of abuse is so high, in fact, that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has granted a schedule II classification to Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin, to name a few drugs within this class, due to the “high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.”

Risk Factors Of Prescription Amphetamine Abuse

According to CESAR, when taken as prescribed, amphetamines are not necessarily harmful (though all medications have side effects). It is when they are taken in ways other than prescribed, or for another reason, that amphetamines can become harmful.

One of the greatest sources of prescription amphetamine abuse witnessed today is due to people taking these drugs to increase their cognitive performance. This risky use is increasingly seen in teenagers and young adults, as some use these drugs as a study aid. This behavior has also been observed in adults that use amphetamines to boost their focus and performance within the professional realm.

Long Term Effects Of Amphetamine Use And Abuse Risk

Like so many prescriptions, people do not always recognize the risk associated with amphetamines simply because they are prescribed by a doctor. Often people abusing prescription drugs, especially kids and teens, get the medication from a person close to them, either by stealing it, or receiving it from them directly.

There are some identifying factors for prescription drug abuse. If someone takes a medication more frequently or in a dose larger than prescribed by their doctor, they are abusing it. Also, if someone takes a prescription medication which does not belong to them, that is defined as abuse. Other identifying factors include taking prescriptions by methods other than prescribed, like crushing and snorting pills to produce faster effects, or contributing to abuse by giving prescriptions to others for whom they are not prescribed.

What Are The Effects Of Amphetamine Abuse?

When a person uses an amphetamine in an illicit manner, they are commonly seeking the drug’s euphoric effects, however, there are many other effects that accompany abuse of this drug. The moderate to severe long-term effects of amphetamine abuse may result from continued and prolonged use. Short-term effects may occur from as little as one or several uses, and may include:

  • Increased blood pressure
  • Increased respiratory rate
  • Changes in sexual behavior
  • Long Term Effects Of Amphetamine Use And Abuse Break FreeDecrease in appetite
  • Dry mouth
  • Increased energy
  • Enhanced sense of well-being
  • Increased body temperature
  • Irregular or increased heart rate
  • Headaches
  • Heart palpitations
  • Hostility
  • Nausea
  • Paranoia
  • Pupil dilation
  • Tremors or twitching of the muscles
  • Uninhibited social behavior

Some of these can contribute to moderate to severe long-term health effects, such as:

  • Breathing troubles
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Convulsions
  • Collapsing physically
  • Dizziness
  • Extreme and atypical fatigue
  • Loss of coordination
  • Mood changes
  • Psychosis
  • Changes in mentality, which can lead to mental disorders
  • Physiological and behavioral disorders
  • Skin disorders
  • Skin pallor
  • Tics (repetitive motor activities)
  • Ulcers

Long Term Effects Of Amphetamine Use And Abuse Consequences

Amphetamine use and abuse needs to be taken very seriously. Prolonged and excessive use can result in a person developing an addiction. In extreme cases, these drugs may cause coma, overdose, or even death.

Treatment For Amphetamine Abuse

There are many kinds of treatments for prescription drug abuse. Treatment may help a person through the detoxification process, during which the body rids itself of any toxic chemicals from abuse. Recovery can also include cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches a person to change everyday habits and build a lifestyle free from the risks of substance abuse or addiction. Counseling may help people suffering from addiction to cope through positive outlets.

Whenever a person seeks treatment for substance abuse, there are many things to consider. For instance, depending on the severity of the abuse, a person may need inpatient care in a hospital or rehabilitation center, which can be costly. Selection of a facility should also take into account support; some facilities allow for family to be present, while others do not. Some other factors may include any preexisting health conditions or co-occurring disorders which also need appropriate care. To properly weigh such an important decision, it is important to have resources and information, as well as professional guidance.

Break Free From Substance Abuse

Contact us if you or a loved are considering treatment.In an era fraught with prescriptions of all kinds, it could be easy to slip into abuse. Yet individuals affected by substance abuse or addiction can get the treatment they need. If you or someone you know has been struggling with substance abuse, do not hesitate to reach out. To start the recovery journey, contact us today at DrugRehab.org. You will get in touch with professionals ready to hear your concerns, receive resources for treatment, and get help designing a treatment plan that is right for you.

Sources
National Center For BioTechnology Information — How Stimulants Affect The Brain And Behavior
National Institute On Drug Abuse — DrugFacts: Stimulant ADHD Medications: Methylphenidate And Amphetamines
United States Drug Enforcement Administration — Drug Scheduling

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