Annually, amphetamines (such as Dexedrine and Benzedrine) are manufactured by the United States pharmaceutical industry in up to 8 to 10 billion doses. The drugs are most often swallowed as pills but can be injected intravenously, and methamphetamine can be snorted or smoked. Originally introduced as antihistamines, their stimulant effects were found out by people soon enough. These days, many people use them to combat depression or chronic fatigue from overwork or simply to boost their self-confidence and energy. They are also a component of diet drugs. As a final point, there are stimulants used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children such as Ritalin. Many doses of these drugs are diverted from prescription use to illegal use and abuse when they are supposed to be under the supervision of physicians. On the street, the amphetamines are known as “speed”, “meth”, and “chalk”.
{ 0 comments }