Speed: Everything You Need to Know About Amphetamines

Speed is a powerful drug that can make you feel awake, energetic, and full of confidence. Speed drug is an amphetamine, a stimulant of the CNS (central nervous system) that impacts the body and mind. People use speed to stay alert, study longer, or feel good.

This guide highlights the many dangers of speed, including heart issues, addiction, and mental health complications. Read on to learn why any use of this controlled substance for recreational purposes is inadvisable and potentially deadly.

What Is Speed?

Speed is a CNS stimulant that affects the brain and body by making everything work faster [1]. People who use the drug feel more awake, alert, and confident. These effects can be risky, though, especially if the drug is misused.

Doctors sometimes use prescription amphetamines to treat conditions like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or narcolepsy (a rare condition associated with excessive daytime sleepiness) [2]. When used as directed, amphetamines can help people focus or stay awake.

Speed is an illicit drug used for non-medical reasons. Any misuse of speed is liable to trigger health issues, dependence, addiction, or overdose. 

What Is Speed Drug?

When prescribed by medical professionals, speed pills are branded as Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Vyvanse. These prescription amphetamines help people with focus and alertness. 

Speed drug is usually sold as a white or pink powder rather than pills. People misusing speed may snort, swallow, or inject the stimulant. Misuse of this Schedule II drug is dangerous and can provoke serious physical and psychological side effects [3]. Like all drugs in this class, speed is also highly addictive.

Why do People Start Using Speed?

Many people are drawn to speed because of its stimulating effects, but these short-term benefits come with long-term dangers. Reasons people use the drug include: 

• Social pressure: In social environments, especially parties or raves, people may feel pressured to use speed to keep up with the crowd. The drug’s ability to increase energy and confidence can make it seem appealing, particularly to those who want to stay awake longer or dance for hours. This can create an environment where misuse feels normalized.
• Academic or work stress: Students and professionals may turn to speed to improve focus and productivity. The belief that speed helps with concentration during exams or work deadlines can lead to misuse. While speed may temporarily boost alertness, the risks of dependence, anxiety, and exhaustion outweigh any short-term gains.
• Self-medication: Some people use speed to manage underlying health conditions like low self-esteem or depression. The feelings of confidence, euphoria, and energy that speed provides can mask deeper emotional struggles. That said, this often leads to worsening mental health symptoms once the drug wears off.
• Curiosity and experimentation: The desire to experience a new high can lead to initial use. Regrettably, even trying speed once may pave the way for repeated use, tolerance, dependence, and addiction. 

Is Speed the Same as Meth?

Speed is a general term for amphetamines, but it may sometimes be used to refer to methamphetamine (meth). Meth is a stronger and more dangerous form of amphetamine. Speed and meth are both stimulants, but meth has a more powerful and longer-lasting effect.

Meth is made illegally in clandestine labs and often comes in crystalline form (crystal meth). It’s even more addictive and harmful than regular speed, leading to problems like: 

• Extreme weight loss
• Serious dental issues (meth mouth)
• Severe anxiety and paranoia
• Violent behavior 

Is Speed the Same as Cocaine?

Speed is not the same as cocaine. Both are CNS stimulants that trigger similar effects on the brain and body. They both make you feel awake, energetic, and confident, although there are differences between these substances. 

• Speed: Amphetamine can be legally prescribed as pills for medical use. The effects last 3 to 6 hours. It usually comes in powdered form when sold on the black market. Speed can be swallowed, snorted, or injected.
• Cocaine: An illicit drug with no recognized medical use, the effects of cocaine are much shorter-lived, lasting just 20 to 30 minutes. Sold in powdered form, the drug is usually snorted or injected. Crack cocaine is a smokable form of cocaine that’s even more damaging. 

Both speed and cocaine are dangerous drugs of abuse associated with heart problems, mental health issues, and addiction. Using either drug is not recommended and is liable to provoke serious adverse outcomes. 

Street Names for Speed

Speed is a street name for amphetamines. Other common slang names for speed include: 

• Billy
• Base
• Whizz
• Paste
• Uppers
• Crank
• Sulfate 

If speed comes in a stronger form like methamphetamine, street names may include: 

• Meth
• Crystal meth
• Ice
• Crystal
• Glass
• Tina 

Speed Effects

When someone takes speed, it changes how their brain and body work. As a stimulant of the central nervous system, the drug speeds up functioning and triggers physical and mental effects. 

Short-term speed effects include: 

• Increased energy
• Euphoria
• Talkativeness
• Decreased appetite
• Heightened focus 

These effects normally kick in shortly after taking the drug and last for several hours. 

Side Effects of Speed

Although speed can make you feel alert and confident, it prompts many negative side effects. These range from mild to severe, depending on how much you take and how often you use the drug.

Common speed side effects include:

• Accelerated heart rate and blood pressure
• Panic
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Appetite loss and weight loss
• Dry mouth
• Jaw clenching
• Mood swings 

Severe speed side effects include: 

• Heart attacks or stroke
• Psychosis
• Seizures 

These severe side effects can happen even if you only use the drug a few times. The more you use, the worse the side effects become. 

How Long Do The Side Effects of Speed Last?

How long the side effects of speed last depends on how much you take and the route of administration—injecting the drug leads to the most dramatic and fast-acting effects. 

Short-term effects may last 3 to 6 hours. After the high subsides, you may feel a pronounced crash lasting a day or two. A speed crash leads to:

• Extreme tiredness
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Depression
• Trouble sleeping 

If you take lots of speed or use it for a long time, the side effects can last even longer, sometimes for several days. Enduring side effects may include: 

• Panic
• Anxiety attacks
• Muscle pain
• Confusion
• Intense cravings for speed 

Can Speed Trigger Long-Term Complications?

Using speed regularly may bring about long-term problems lasting months or years. These issues are harder to recover from and may need professional intervention. The more you use the drug, the more damage it can wreak, physically and emotionally. 

Some of the most common long-term complications of speed use include: 

• Addiction: Addiction—stimulant use disorder—is one of the biggest long-term risks [4]. Once addiction sets in, it can be challenging to discontinue use without professional help.
• Mental health issues: Chronic speed use can lead to anxiety, paranoia, depression, and psychosis [5]. Some people may see or hear things that aren’t real, and many people exhibit violent or erratic behaviors.
• Heart problems: Using speed for a long time can damage your heart and lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.
• Brain damage: Speed can harm the brain’s ability to release essential brain chemicals. This may lead to memory loss, poor decision-making, and trouble focusing.
• Weight loss and malnutrition: Speed, like all amphetamines, suppresses appetite. With chronic use, this can lead to extreme weight loss and poor health.
• Dental problems: Grinding your teeth and dry mouth can cause severe tooth decay (meth mouth). 

These long-term issues can be difficult to fix and may be irreversible. Like all drug addictions, speed addiction usually gets worse unless treated. That said, it responds favorably to evidence-based treatment.

Addiction Risk of Speed

Speed, like all Schedule II drugs, is powerfully addictive. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by an inability to quit despite adverse outcomes in all areas of life. 

The rapid high delivered by speed encourages repeated use by those looking to recreate feelings of euphoria. Unfortunately, ongoing use of the drug leads to the development of tolerance, meaning that more speed is required to deliver the initial effects [6]. Over time, chronic speed use changes how the brain works, making it harder to feel happy without the drug. 

Signs of speed addiction include: 

• Using speed more often or in larger amounts than intended.
• Feeling unable to stop using the drug, despite it causing problems.
• Missing school, work, or important social events due to speed use.
• Spending lots of time and money to get the drug.
• Feeling sick or unhappy when not using speed. 

Addiction can ruin relationships, health, and future goals. Untreated, speed addiction usually worsens. While there are no medications approved to treat stimulant use disorder, talk therapies, motivational therapies, and counseling can help people stop using the drug and remain abstinent long-term. 

Dangerous Interactions

Mixing speed with other drugs or alcohol can be extremely dangerous. Combining drugs tends to intensify the effects of each substance and lead to more unpredictable outcomes. Interactions associated with amphetamines like speed include: 

• Speed and alcohol: Alcohol is a depressant and speed is a stimulant. Using the two substances in combination can mask their effects. This makes it easy for someone to drink too much or take too much speed without realizing it. Mixing speed and alcohol can cause alcohol poisoning, heart problems, and overdose.
• Speed and other CNS stimulants: Taking speed with other stimulants like ecstasy or cocaine can put too much strain on your heart. This increases the risk of high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks.
• Speed and CNS depressants: Combining speed with sleeping pills, opioids, or benzodiazepines can confuse your body. This may cause dangerous heart rhythms, breathing problems, and overdose.

To stay safe, never mix speed with other drugs or alcohol. It is best to avoid all use of this substance unless you are prescribed amphetamines by a healthcare provider for legitimate medical purposes. Even then, mixing the drug with other substances is never recommended and potentially life-threatening. 

Overdose

Taking too much speed can lead to an overdose, which can be fatal. A speed overdose happens when the drug overloads your body, causing it to shut down. 

Common indicators of a speed overdose include: 

• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• High body temperature
• Severe sweating
• Chest pain
• Confusion or panic
• Hallucinations
• Trouble breathing
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Passing out

An overdose may provoke a heart attack or stroke, and in severe cases can be life-threatening. If you suspect someone is overdosing on speed, call 911 right away—prompt medical intervention could be life-saving. 

How to Get Help for Speed Misuse | FAQs

Is speed addictive?

Yes, speed is highly addictive. The more you use it, the more your body and brain crave it. Over time, it becomes harder to feel good without the drug. 

How can I stop using speed?

To quit using speed, talk to a doctor or counselor who can help you make a plan. Support groups, therapy, and sometimes medication can make quitting easier and safer. Don’t try to quit alone if you feel dependent. 

Is long-term speed use life-threatening?

Yes, using speed regularly can lead to deadly health problems like heart attacks, strokes, or overdoses. The longer you use it, the higher the risk of serious harm or death. 

Get Compassionate and Effective Treatment for Speed Addiction at California Detox

If you or someone you care about has been misusing amphetamines like speed, contact California Detox for help getting back on track. 

While there are no FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant withdrawal, our medical detox program helps you withdraw from speed under controlled conditions with access to 24/7 clinical and emotional support. After a week of detox, patients transition to ongoing inpatient treatment at our serene beachside facility. 

No two addictions are alike, so all treatment plans reflect this with personalized therapies such as: 

• Counseling
• Talk therapies
• Group therapy
• Motivational therapies
• Family therapy
• Holistic therapies
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Aftercare 

Kickstart your recovery from speed addiction by calling 888-995-4208 

Sources 

[1] https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576548/// 

[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2670101/ 

[3] https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling 

[4] https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/substance-use/stimulants.asp 

[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3764482 

[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11224198/