Amphetamines vs Methamphetamines: Is Speed Meth?

Buy Amphetamines Online Now. 660,000 Canadians over the age of 15 report having used a stimulant over the past year. Sadly, 37% of these people say their use of stimulants is problematic. Some of the most commonly used stimulants are amphetamines. Amphetamines include prescription drugs like Vyvanse and Adderall. Methamphetamine is also a type of amphetamine. Yet, most people do not understand the difference when it comes to amphetamines vs methamphetamines.

Do you or a loved one use amphetamines? If so, continue reading this guide to better understand these drugs’ adverse effects. Inside this short guide, we also share tips on how to get clean and add life to your days.

What Is Amphetamine?

Amphetamines are a class of drugs that include prescription stimulants (e.g., Adderall, Concerta, and Ritalin) as well as illegal methamphetamine.

Doctors prescribe amphetamines to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Narcolepsy and obesity are also conditions that prescription amphetamines can help treat.

People also use amphetamines illicitly. Prescription amphetamine abuse is common among college students who use these stimulants illegally as a study aid. Some people also abuse amphetamines for their sleep- and appetite-suppressing effects.

Prescription amphetamines come in pill form. People who abuse amphetamines more frequently snort, inject, or even smoke crushed amphetamine pills. However, prescription amphetamine is different from street methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine is an illegal drug. We will tell you more about it next, so keep reading.

What Is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a type of amphetamine, also known as meth or crystal meth, and it is a stimulant drug with a high potential for abuse. Meth is a street drug not currently available as a prescription medication.

However, meth was available in prescription form from 1930 onward. Doctors prescribed methamphetamines to treat a wide range of conditions, including asthma, obesity, and childhood hyperactivity.

The United States banned prescription methamphetamines in 1971, and Canada followed soon after that. Meth’s intense stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS) is the primary reason for these bans.

Methamphetamine use comes with the following symptoms:

• Increased alertness
• Increased energy
• Excitement
• Euphoria (a “high”)
• Hallucinations
• Decreased appetite
• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Elevated body temperature
• Increased breathing rate

The drug causes these symptoms because of its effects on the brain. Meth acts on neurotransmitters, which are similar to hormones. The primary function of neurotransmitters is to exchange messages between brain cells.

Methamphetamine increases concentrations of neurotransmitters called dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin. Each of these chemicals produces a specific effect.

For example, dopamine is often called the “happy” chemical. It plays a role in feeling satisfied and motivated. More dopamine in the brain increases these feelings, while less dopamine decreases them.

On the other hand, norepinephrine and epinephrine play roles in the fight-or-flight response. Increases in these chemicals can lead to feelings of alertness. When flooding the nervous system for too long, it can cause increased stress.

Serotonin primarily plays a role in our moods. Like dopamine, increased serotonin makes us feel good. Some researchers theorise that people with depression may have reduced levels of this chemical in their brains.

How Meth Is Made

Criminals make methamphetamines in laboratories. Some ingredients used to make meth are accessible over-the-counter (OTC). For example, pseudoephedrine is a meth ingredient found in OTC cold medications.

Meth labs are not only dangerous because of the drug they produce. These labs may release toxic chemicals into the local area that can lead to health problems. Fires and even explosions are also common in meth labs.

Additionally, these labs release second-hand meth smoke into the area. Researchers are still trying to understand the potential impacts of second-hand meth smoke. What is known is that people can test positive for meth from inhaling it second-hand.

Different Forms of Methamphetamine

There are two types of methamphetamines: d-methamphetamine and l-methamphetamine. Both drugs have the same chemical makeup. The difference between them is the arrangement of the chemicals.

Another difference between the two is their potencies. L-meth is the original and relatively less potent version of meth, while D-meth is twice as strong. D-methamphetamine is also far simpler to produce.

d,1-methamphetamine is a mixture between D- and L-meth. It is not as strong as d-meth, but it is still dangerous. In Canada, d,1-meth has re-emerged in popularity over the past few decades.

Most methamphetamines come in crystal meth form. The name comes from the fact that crystal meth looks like shards of glass. It is common to find meth in powdered form, which users snort or dissolve in a liquid (e.g., alcohol).

The powdered form of meth is also known as speed on the streets (more on speed later). Base is the street name for a highly potent and pure form of meth. People typically inject or swallow base.

Crystal meth, speed, and base have different potencies. Crystal meth is the most potent at around 80% purity. Speed and base are less potent at 10% and 20% purity, respectively.

Other street names for meth and amphetamines used for recreational purposes are beanies, crank, ice, speed, and bennies. Some people also refer to amphetamines and other stimulants as “uppers.”

Upper Drugs: Stimulants

Meth and prescription amphetamines are stimulants. Stimulants are a type of drug category or class. There are six other drug categories besides stimulants, which are:

1. Depressants (e.g., alcohol, antidepressants, and anxiolytics)
2. Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin)
3. Anaesthetics (e.g., PCP and dextromethorphan)
4. Analgesics (e.g., opioids)
5. Inhalants (e.g., nitrous oxide)
6. Cannabis (e.g., natural and synthetic cannabinoids)

Cocaine and crack cocaine are other illegal drugs that fall under the stimulant category. Caffeine and nicotine are legal stimulants that are widely available without a prescription.

Cocaine and amphetamines are similar in their impacts on the brain and body. Amphetamines, including meth, tend to take effect slower than cocaine. Also, amphetamines tend to last longer than cocaine.

Stimulant Effects

Each stimulant has its unique effects. Yet, all of them share some effects in common. Most stimulants increase energy and attention span, improve self-esteem and sociability, boost desire for sex, and reduce appetite.

It is important to understand that these effects are not permanent. Once stimulants wear off, these effects will go away, too.

What Is the Difference Between Amphetamines vs Methamphetamines?

Methamphetamine is an amphetamine, but not all amphetamines are meth. Meth and prescription amphetamines differ in their potencies, duration of effect, abuse potential, and risk of overdose.

Learn more about the differences between methamphetamine vs amphetamine below.

Potency

The main difference between amphetamines and meth is that the latter is stronger than the former. Using the same dose of meth as a prescription amphetamine results in a 4x increase in these effects.

The reason for meth’s increased potency is its effects on the brain. Both drugs lead to an increase in neurotransmitters, including dopamine. But meth increases dopamine concentrations five times more than amphetamine.

Meth also increases brain cell excitability more than prescription amphetamines, especially in a brain area called the nucleus accumbens.

The nucleus accumbens, located near the hypothalamus, plays a role in learning and memory. It also helps regulate motivation, action, and, importantly, addiction.

Duration

Meth’s increased potency also impacts how long it lasts. Methamphetamine tends to last longer than prescription amphetamines, especially when people take amphetamines according to a doctor’s prescription.

The effects of prescription amphetamines can last 4–6 hours. Extended-release amphetamines and crushed and snorted amphetamines can last longer than six hours but not as long as most forms of meth.

The duration of a meth high depends on the route of administration. Ingesting or snorting a small amount of meth may only last 6–8 hours. Using large amounts of meth and injecting or smoking meth can last for up to 24 hours.

Addictiveness

Another result of meth’s increased potency is its higher potential for abuse. Many people report getting addicted to meth after only one use. Prescription amphetamines are more difficult to become dependent on than meth.

However, someone can still become addicted to their or someone else’s prescription amphetamines. Abusing amphetamines without a prescription increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD).

To Buy Amphetamines Online Now, you have to understand that even people with a prescription can get addicted. Taking more amphetamines than prescribed is one of the most common ways people become addicted to prescription medications.

Overdose Risk

The higher potency of methamphetamine also increases the risk of overdose. The risk of overdosing on meth increases after detox. Many users try to use the same amount they did before detoxing, with often fatal results.

Another reason overdosing on meth is more common is how criminals manufacture it. Pharmaceutical companies manufacture prescription amphetamines. And Health Canada’s HPFB regulates them.

Criminals and criminal organizations that manufacture meth may include other compounds to increase the potency of their products. These added compounds also increase the likelihood of addiction and overdose.