Amphetamine

• Some people crush it up and snort it
• Some people dab it onto their gums
• Some people roll it up in a cigarette paper and swallow it like a capsule, this is called ‘bombing’
• It can also be injected (which is particularly dangerous as speed is usually very impure)
• Some people mix it into their drinks

Taking speed can make you feel:

• alert
• energised
• wide awake
• excited

Some people take it because it gives them the energy to do things for hours without getting tired – like dancing and talking.

Speed stops you feeling hungry too, and amphetamines like speed were once the main ingredient in diet pills.

Speed can also make users feel:

• agitated
• panicked

Some people have become psychotic and delusional when on speed, which means seeing or hearing things that aren't there.

Some people get very:

• chatty
• talkative

while others become:

• agitated
• anxious
• aggressive

There have also been cases of people becoming psychotic and experiencing delusions – which means seeing and hearing things that aren’t there.

How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.

To kick in

Speed takes a few minutes to kick in when snorted. Used orally, it takes between 20 minutes to an hour.

How long it lasts

The buzz can last between 3 and 6 hours.

After effects

People can feel down and low in mood for a few days after using speed.

Speed can be detected in your urine for 1 to 5 days after using.

How long a drug can be detected for depends on how much is taken and which testing kit is used. This is only a general guide.

Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.

Yes, speed is an addictive drug.

If you take a lot on a regular basis you can build up a tolerance to the drug so that you need higher doses just to get the same buzz or feel 'normal'.

Regular users can increasingly take speed to avoid unpleasant withdrawals.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.

Speed that has been prepared for injection becomes a Class A drug and can get you tougher sentencing if you're caught with it or selling it.