Ellen Campbell-Grizzle

Ecstasy, an amphetamine, is now widely abused in the United States and Europe and is an emerging problem in Jamaica.

Amphetamines are stimulants to the central nervous system and speed up the messages going to and from the brain. The drugs are most commonly swallowed, injected or smoked. Some can be snorted or sniffed through the nose or 'shafted' anally.

We know that amphetamine abuse began in the 1940s. The substance was present in substantial amounts in inhalers and promoted as a nasal decongestant. In the 1960s, amphetamines were frequently used by military personnel. For medical purposes, some medicines in the amphetamine class are used to treat narcolepsy (where a person has an uncontrollable urge to sleep) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Boost self-confidence

Today, most amphetamines are produced in clandestine laboratories. Methamphetamine, a member of the family, has emerged as the preferred amphetamine because it is easier to make illegally. A new pattern of abuse has evolved in which methamphetamine-based crystals, also known as ice, are smoked, similar to the use of crack cocaine.

People abuse amphetamines for many reasons. Some want to get 'high' and dance all night. Others use the drugs to help stay awake for long periods of time, to improve performance in sport or at work, or to boost their self- confidence. Amphetamines reduce tiredness and increase endurance. Abusers experience the following effects after taking amphetamines:

Speeding up of bodily functions such as the heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. Dry mouth, increased sweating, enlargement of the pupils and headaches may occur.

More energy and alertness - Users feel full of confidence with a heightened sense of well being. They feel wide awake and alert, become talkative, restless and excited.

Reduced appetite

Irritability - some persons become anxious, irritable, hostile and aggressive. Sometimes people feel a sense of power and superiority over others.

In high doses, persons are affected by 'amphetamine psychosis', characterised by paranoia, hallucinations and aggressive or violent behaviour.

Coming down

As the effects of amphetamines wear off, a range of symptoms occur. These include uncontrolled violence, tension, radical mood swings, depression and total exhaustion. People may turn to alcohol, tranquillisers, sedatives, cannabis or opiates to calm themselves. This may fuel continued drug abuse.

Long-term effects

Persons who are addicted to amphetamines suffer from malnutrition, psychosis, regular infections due to compromised immunity and brain damage. Tolerance to the drug is easy to acquire and users need to take more and more of it to get the same effect. Use during pregnancy can lead to abnormal foetal development.

Persons who overdose while using amphetamines need urgent medical attention. Do not delay. Call an ambulance.

You should:

Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information & Research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.