Amphetamines: What Are They? Are They Dangerous?

Amphetamines refer to a classification of drugs that, although used in medical settings, can also be addictive and harmful.

Even when a drug is used in medical settings, that does not mean it is always safe or that it does not have abuse potential or harmful side effects. This is the case with amphetamines, a classification of drugs that are widely used in the U.S. today.

Amphetamines Defined

Amphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. Used to treat some medical conditions, amphetamine is also highly addictive and comes with a history of abuse. Even when used as prescribed, drugs that have amphetamine in them can still cause addiction.¹

Drugs like Adderall have amphetamine in them and are usually prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, when misused, Adderall can produce mind-altering “highs” along with unwanted physical effects like restlessness, acne, blurred vision, seizures, heart problems, and psychosis. Other amphetamine drugs include:²

• Concerta
• Dexedrine
• Focalin
• Metadate
• Methylin
• Ritalin
• Vyvanse

These drugs are prescribed in a variety of doses, anywhere from 5 to 40 milligrams one to three times per day, usually at six-hour intervals.

How Amphetamines Work

Amphetamine chemicals work by activating receptors in the brain, which in turn increases neurotransmitter activity. One of the neurotransmitters activated is dopamine, a chemical in the brain associated with pleasure. The activating effect of amphetamine on dopamine in the brain is a big part of why users seek amphetamine; it produces a “feel good” effect when used recreationally.

In medical settings, amphetamines are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions, including ADHD and depression. It’s less common now, but there was a time when amphetamines were prescribed to help with weight loss and narcolepsy.

Effects of Using Amphetamines

Amphetamines produce mixed results when used as intended, as the drugs only address physical issues; they never get to the psychological or spiritual reasons why someone may be struggling with ADHD or depression. When used recreationally or self-medicated, users put themselves at significant risk for harm. Some of the physical side effects of using amphetamine include:³

• Dry mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Teeth grinding
• Blurred vision
• Rapid heart rate
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Profuse sweating
• Nasal congestion
• Difficulty urinating
• Low blood pressure
• High blood pressure
• Changes in breathing
• Acne, rash, and hives
• Nausea and weight loss
• Increased risk for seizures
• Reduced blood flow to the extremities

People who misuse amphetamines often experience unwanted psychological side effects, too. These can include:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Mood swings
• Apprehension
• Obsessive behaviors

Sometimes, people can experience psychotic episodes as a result of experimenting with amphetamine.

Why Do People Experiment with Amphetamine?

When used recreationally, amphetamine produces powerful psychological and sometimes physical changes in users. People who are not on a legitimate prescription for amphetamine may take it not to treat a medical condition but rather to experience mind-altering and physical effects from it. Some take it to boost libido, others take it to increase wakefulness, and some use it to boost cognition, sociability, and euphoria.

Some use amphetamines to increase muscle strength and reduce fatigue while speeding up reaction time, which is where the drug gets its slang name, “speed.”

However, this type of usage behavior with amphetamines, especially with Adderall (arguably the most commonly used amphetamine), comes at a steep cost. Amphetamines cause dopamine in the brain to rise quickly, which produces short-lived psychological and physical changes, but not without unwanted side effects.

People who misuse amphetamine are at high risk for experiencing:

• Severe psychosis and delusions
• Regular and repeat feelings of paranoia and hostility
• Serious cardiovascular problems, including but not limited to stroke
• A long-term reduction in cognitive activity, memory, and problem-solving skills
• A breakdown of muscle mass and tone over time, reduction in strength, and depletion of energy
• Depression and sleep disturbances are also factors associated with amphetamine abuse, especially during withdrawal.

How Widespread Are Amphetamine Overdose Deaths?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks overdose deaths caused by psychostimulants. Amphetamine drugs fall into that category. According to the CDC, deaths connected to psychostimulant addiction have skyrocketed in the last ten years. Annually from 2001 to 2014, one to two people in the U.S. died from a psychostimulant-related overdose for every 100,000 people in the country. From 2014 to 2021, that number soared to over ten people dying from such overdoses for every 100,000.⁴

Amphetamine-Like Drugs

Amphetamine, in a sense, is the father of an entire class of mind-altering substances. Other street drugs based on the chemical structure of amphetamine include:

• Ephedrine
• Cathinone
• MDMA (Ecstasy)
• Methamphetamine

Like amphetamine, these drugs can produce harmful effects on users.

The Need for Treatment When One Becomes Hooked on Amphetamines

Even though most amphetamines appear in the form of legal prescription drugs, not all forms of amphetamine use are safe. Even using amphetamines as prescribed has risks, and when people misuse amphetamines or experiment with them recreationally, studies show they are at elevated risk of experiencing amphetamine-related mortality (amphetamine overdose).⁵

If you know someone who is experimenting with or misusing amphetamine, whether they have a legitimate prescription for it or not, please make sure they get help at a qualified treatment center as soon as possible. Misusing amphetamines can quickly lead to addiction, and the longer one spends addicted to amphetamines, the more likely they are to experience serious harm.

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