AMPHETAMINE USE AND ITS EFFECTS
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AMPHETAMINE USE AND ITS EFFECTS
Stimulant use by humans has a very long history. The Ma-huang drug has been used by the Chinese natives for more than 5000 years (Ebadi, 2002). The active agent of Mu-huang was found to be ephedrine in 1887. First synthesis of Amphetamine proper was in 1887 as part of a program for manufacturing aliphatic amines. At first, investigations on amphetamine properties concentrated on peripheral effects and it was found that it was a sympathomimetic agent having bronchodilator properties. However, the effect on the central nervous system was not reported until 1933 which was followed closely by the first amphetamine abuse reports. Amphetamines give people a feeling of relief from fatigue and euphoria, it produces anorexia, improves performance of doing simple tasks and increases the activity levels (Ebadi, 2002). Amphetamine abuse is considered to be related primarily to the euphorigenic effects that lead to its use in high doses before the onset of the final stage which is compulsive abuse.
The abuse of Amphetamines at present has been at low epidemic levels since the drug as introduced in the 1930s. During the beginning of the 1950s and 60s however, the epidemic appeared in the United States, Sweden and japan. A study of the epidemic reveals that there were several factors which contributed to its spread and these include; large population segments being introduced to the drug for recreational, medical and reduction of fatigue purposes, the quick spread of knowledge of the effects and experience of the use of amphetamines, the swelling of a large group of chronic users of amphetamines leading to the development of an illegal stable market for the drug, additional use of other methods of administration of the drug for example by smoking, there was an oversupply of amphetamines initially on the illegal and legal markets and finally there was emergence of underground laboratories for preparing the amphetamines (Singer, 2008).
The first epidemic of amphetamines in Japan emerged after the World War II when there was free availability of methamphetamine supplies that were left over after the war. The methamphetamines were originally intended to combat fatigue during the war. The supplies became available to the general public for free. However, the epidemic was quickly stopped through legal and social sanctions. A second epidemic which is currently ongoing in japan began due to use of illegally produced methamphetamine (Ledgard, 2007). From then, several moderate and minor epidemics have occurred in several other countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United stated (mostly on the south coast in Hawaii).
The epidemic started in the 1960s in the United States and absolute control on amphetamine production abruptly truncated this original epidemic. The control by FDA involved increasing the public knowledge on the side effects of amphetamine and scheduling of the drug. The epidemic then re-emerged in the 1980s and has now taken a new form of “crank”, “ice”, and “crystal meth” and this can be smoked just like cocaine. Deaths related to the use of methamphetamine have increased three fold but this increases have been experienced in locations having clandestine laboratories that manufacture the drug. These areas include Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and San Diego. Along the west coast and San Francisco in Particular, the use of methamphetamine is intended to enhance sexual activity which comes in the form of bizarre, indiscriminate and excessive sexual activity among the homosexuals and this has raised concerns on contribution of the drug in spreading of HIV. There is also a raised concern on the rising numbers of truck drivers being found with methamphetamine in their blood samples and this is dangerous because the fatalities and traffic accidents may be attributed to the extended use of amphetamines that leads to loss of mental flexibility of exhaustion but specific number of such incidences is currently not known (Singer, 2008).
According to the controlled substance Act which was enforced in 1970, amphetamines are placed under schedule II controlled substances. There are five classifications of controlled substances with schedule I being the most controlled and schedule V being the least controlled. Due to the way in which amphetamines work, they have been placed in schedule II by the federal government. The criterion for this placement is because amphetamines have a high potential for abuse by people. Amphetamines are also currently being permitted for medical use in the United States although under severe restrictions. In addition, they use of amphetamines may result in severe physical or psychological dependence (Fda.gov, 2015).
The central nervous system responds to threats or stress by creating certain physiological changes. Amphetamines ‘catalyse’ the central nervous system to initiate such a response. Such changes may include increase of blood pressure and the pumping rate of the heart, release of stress hormones including adrenaline, and redirecting flow of blood away from the heart and into muscles. When used in small doses, amphetamines reduce tiredness and make the user more refreshed and alert. This increase in energy, however, comes at a price and the good feeling is crashed by leaving the user feeling irritated, nauseated, extremely exhausted and depressed (Fda.gov, 2015).
The effects of amphetamine usage depend on the blend of chemicals, the length of the effects of the drug, strength of the dosage, state of the mind of the user and his/her physical make up. Some immediate effects of amphetamines include; loss of appetite, jaw clenching and dry mouth, sweating, accelerated breathing rate and heart rate, a sudden increase in energy making the use restless, talkative and excited, dilated pupils and a high blood pressure. Despite the effects of the amphetamines wearing off, the residues of the drug still remain in the system of the user. Methamphetamines can be detected in the blood of the user roughly for about 4 to 8 hours after usage and in urine the can be found for 2 to 5 days after use of the drug (Conti & Johanson, 2012).
High doses of the amphetamine drug could make the user feel some anxiety, nervousness, irritation and confusion. In some people this may lead to aggression, hostility and violence. Undesired symptoms may include dizziness, headaches, loss of coordination, heart palpitations and blurred vision. Long term amphetamine use can result in significant health problems including, damage to brain cells, malnutrition due to the depressed appetite, depression, panic attacks and mood swings, dependence on other drugs to balance the amphetamine effects for example sleeping tablets, increased susceptibility to violence, reduced immunity resulting from lack of sleep and malnutrition and in addition the amphetamines may bring about amphetamine psychosis that may include paranoia, hallucinations and other similar symptoms of schizophrenia. In general amphetamines may result in a person being a danger to others and to themselves (Conti & Johanson, 2012).
Aaliyah’s substance abuse may be a problem because despite experiencing side effects such as headaches she cannot stop the use because she is already addicted and cannot successfully do her school work without getting her fix. Her dependence on more than a pill at a time also indicates that she is becoming a chronic user. In addition there may be a problem with the substance abuse by Aaliyah because her body cannot function in the normal way and is dependent on the amphetamines. The misuse of the amphetamines by Aaliyah may result in her developing some behaviours which may include having restrained relationships with other people and in case she has a boyfriend it may lead to a break up of their relationship, she may also develop a trouble in maintaining concentration and this may lead in reduced or dismal performance in her work and she may also develop some violence characteristics which comes with prolonged use of the amphetamines.

References
Conti, N., & Johanson, P. (2012). The truth about amphetamines and stimulants. New York: Rosen
Ebadi, M. (2002). Pharmacodynamic basis of herbal medicine. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press.
Fda.gov, (2015). Adderall and Adderall XR (amphetamines) Information. Retrieved 10 September 2015, from http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety
Ledgard, J. (2007). A Laboratory History of Narcotics, Vol. Gardners Books. Pub.
Singer, M. (2008). Drugs and development. Long Grove, IL.: Waveland Press.