Speed – one of the most commonly used drugs for recreation is either taken orally, smoked , or injected. Available in the form of fine white powder or as tablets in bright colors, this addictive drug known as speed is sometimes also used to refer to crystal meth that is available in chunky, transparent crystals. Speed is a street name that refers to both amphetamine and methamphetamine. Both of these substances are quite similar, although methamphetamine is more potent then amphetamines. Methamphetamine is considered more potent as they contain phenylethylamine that has been methylated twice. Apart from speed these drugs are also available under street names like meth, ice and crank and glass.
Effects of Speed Addiction
Speed directly affects the central nervous system by altering the chemicals in the nerves and brain. The various physical as well as psychological effects that speed has on the user include:
- Uneven or rapid heartbeat
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Loss of hunger and rapid weight loss
- Sexual impotency
- Tremors and shakes
- Feeling of high and intense euphoria
- Dry mouth or experiencing strange tastes in mouth
Speed is highly addictive both physically as well as mentally. Once the person uses speed for a long duration of time he or she develops a high tolerance toward it. This means that now he will need to take higher doses of the drug in order to get the same feeling of high as before. Once the body develops a physical addiction of the drug, it needs to get the daily fix in order to function normally. In case the body does not receive its daily fix it goes into withdrawal.
Amphetamine Rehab and Recovery Programs
Speed detox, rehab, and recovery programs are the best and only ways to get rid of speed addiction. This is why it is extremely important that the user get into an addiction treatment program so that he can successfully get on the road to a healthy life in the most feasible manner possible. like most other drug rehabs, speed rehab works with every patient so as to understand the underlying reason for addiction and how to deal with those reasons so that the patient deals with his stress in a healthier manner. Therapy as well as counseling is another very important part of the whole rehab program. Cognitive-behavior therapy is another very important part of rehab as it helps in dealing with the long term effects of the speed use.