What Is Amphetamine Abuse?

Amphetamine drugs, also known as amphetamine-type stimulants, are collectively referred to all central nervous system stimulants converted from amphetamine. This class of drugs are psychotropic drugs, which are generally divided into three types: traditional, weight loss and hallucinogenic. All three drugs will cause great harm to the human body's spirit and organs. Because there is no established physical dependence, detoxification of amphetamines can only be treated symptomatically and psychologically.

Amphetamines

Development history of amphetamines

The history of amphetamine-type stimulants can be traced back to the middle and late 19th century. The first amphetamine-type stimulant in the world was first synthesized by Romanian chemists, which is now known as "amphetamine". ^[1]

Subsequently, another stimulant similar to "amphetamine", "3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)", was produced by a German pharmaceutical company in the middle of the 20th century and was used as a legal drug Promotion. It was not until later studies found that it had serious sequelae of taking food, and it was banned by governments of all countries. ^[1]

At the same time as MDMA, there is another stimulant known as "methamphetamine" (MA), also known as "methamphetamine". After its emergence in 1920, it was quickly applied to World War II by various countries, especially Japan and Germany, and distributed to frontline soldiers to improve their combat effectiveness and endurance. After the war, Japan s ice poison was considered legal The use of medicaments to soothe the defeat of the nation and maintain a strong energy to participate in post-war reconstruction. This national policy has spread "methamphetamine" in Japan and introduced it to countries around the world. It was not until the late twentieth century that the momentum of development was contained. ^[1] According to the 2012 United Nations World Drug Report, amphetamine-type stimulants, such as methamphetamine (excluding ecstasy), have become the second most prevalent drug in the world (after marijuana), with an epidemic rate of 0.3 to 1.2 in 2010 %. ^[2]

Chemical structure of amphetamines

Styrene

Chemical structures of amphetamine and methamphetamine (virus) Amine drugs have similar chemical structures, that is, they contain an ethylamine group (or two amino groups) and a benzene ring. Basically, they can be regarded as phenylethylamine or amphetamine as the main body, and their chemical structures are replaced by different functional groups. The same kind of compounds derived from oxygen atoms at different positions in ^[3]

Specific classification of amphetamines

Traditional amphetamine drugs

Main terms: methamphetamine, amphetamine

Methamphetamine (methamphetamine) Traditional amphetamine-type stimulants refer to the earliest types in the development of this series of drugs, and are represented by methamphetamine and amphetamine. ^[4]

Methamphetamine, commonly known as methamphetamine, was first produced in 1883 by the Japanese pharmacological parent Inagai. It is colorless transparent flake crystal at room temperature. Earlier studies found that after a single low-dose MA injection, healthy subjects experienced increased alertness, increased concentration, vigorous energy, and even improved cognitive function. However, the poisoned dose of MA will bring euphoria to users, increasing their sexual activity, decreased appetite, weight loss, reduced sleep, increased self-confidence, and even approaching hypomania, even various delusions. Abuse can cause widespread cognitive impairment, including episodic memory, executive function, information processing speed, motor skills, and language. ^[5] Taking a larger dose of methamphetamine at one time can cause skeletal muscle spasm and muscle lysis in the drug user, malignant fever, death, or serious damage to renal function. This is one of the most common hazards of amphetamine-type stimulants. . Amphetamine-type stimulants can also cause damage to cerebral blood vessels, leading to cerebral hemorrhage. ^[6]

Amphetamine is the prototype of a series of synthetic drugs with significant excitatory effects on the central nervous system. Originally used for the treatment of children with brain dysfunction and other diseases ^[7] , the symptoms after abuse are similar to methamphetamine. ^[5]

Amphetamine drugs

Main terms: Fenfluramine, Phentermine

Weight-loss amphetamine-type stimulants refer to amphetamine-type stimulants that are often used to make weight-loss drugs or to reduce appetite. These stimulants include fenfluramine, phentermine, and amphetamine sulfate. ^[4]

Fenfluramine is an appetite suppressant used to treat obesity. The US FDA approved the listing of three amphetamine-type weight loss drugs in 1959, 1973, and 1996, namely phentermine, fenfluramine, and dexfenfluramine. Later, there were some unapproved compound preparations such as Fen-phen (fenfluramine-phentermine) and Dexfen-phen (dexfenfluramine-phentermine). ^[8] Prior to 2009, because it could significantly inhibit the central nervous activity of the brainstem and satiate, thereby reducing appetite and achieving weight loss, but also energetic users, not thinking about sleep ^[6] , the Chinese market has been using hydrochloric acid Fenfluramine is widely used as a weight-loss medicine. On January 8, 2009, the use of fenfluramine hydrochloride by the State Food and Drug Administration can cause serious adverse reactions such as heart valve damage, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, palpitation, chest tightness, and hematuria. It was decided to stop fenfluramine hydrochloride raw materials and preparations. In China's production, sales and use, its approval document number is revoked. ^[9]

Phentermine is an adrenergic drug isomeric with amphetamine, a colorless oily liquid. Anorectics, which are orally complexed with ion exchange resins for long-lasting effects.

Amphetamine sulfate, also known as phenanthrene and phenenamin, is a central excitatory antidepressant currently used. It is clinically used to treat narcolepsy, poisoning by anesthetics and central inhibitors, and depression, but it is also very toxic. ^[10]

Amphetamines hallucinogenic

Main article: Ecstasy

Hallucinogenic amphetamine-type stimulants refer to amphetamine-type stimulants that cause a large number of excessive hallucinations after use. Its typical representatives are methamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine (MDA) and so on. ^[4]

Ecstasy classification

MDMA. In 1914, the Germans extracted a chemical molecule called safrole and methamphetamine from Sassafras or nutmeg. For the first time, this appetite suppressant was synthesized, but it was not put on the market for mass production. MDMA and MDA are the main components of ecstasy. ^[11] Ecstasy is a drug between stimulants and hallucinogens. The most common side effects are tension in the jaw, uncontrollable grinding of teeth, nervousness, palpitations, etc., and sometimes people become suspicious, Paranoid delusions, as well as emotional excitement, will involuntarily want to dance, and may even cause long-term irreversible damage to the brain. Cases of death from ecstasy pills have occurred. Since about 1988, the media have advertised the dangers of this drug, and as a result, its abuse has been promoted. ^[12] In addition, a large amount of ecstasy can cause muscle spasms and dissolution similar to methamphetamine. ^[6]

Harm of amphetamine drugs

Mental damage of amphetamines

The most common consequence of abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants is psychotic symptoms. A large amount of clinical data shows that methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA, etc. can cause direct damage to nerve cells in the brain, leading to degeneration, necrosis of nerve cells, and acute and chronic mental disorders.

It is generally believed that intravenous injection of 10 mg of methamphetamine leads to acute mental disorders. For some sensitive individuals, intravenous injection of 2 mg of methamphetamine can cause acute mental disorders. Its main manifestations are multilingual anxiety, anxiety and allergies, active thinking but difficult to think deeply. Among them, the most typical psychotic symptom is "common behavior", that is, repeating the same meaningless action for a long time, and never getting bored. For example, she keeps on bursting hair and picking up earwax.

Intravenous injection of 20 mg of methamphetamine can cause hallucinations. Drug users can also develop pathological mental symptoms such as victimization delusions, tracking delusions, jealousy delusions, and auditory hallucinations. Under the influence of these pathological psychiatric symptoms, drug users are extremely likely to commit violent acts.

Long-term abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants can lead to chronic mental disorders, also known as amphetamine-type psychosis. Studies have shown that 82% of amphetamine abusers still have some psychiatric symptoms even if they stop abuse for 8-12 years. Many amphetamine abusers have improved their symptoms or cured their symptoms after treatment. However, in the later life, Drug use (even if it is 1-2 times) or the sudden recurrence of mental illness under the stimulation of non-drug factors such as drug poisoning, drunkenness, and mental stress, which is called the reburning phenomenon.

Physiological damage of amphetamines

Amphetamine-type stimulants can have excitatory effects on the cardiovascular system, leading to myocardial cell hypertrophy, atrophy, degeneration, contraction band necrosis, small vessel endothelial cell damage, and small vessel spasm, leading to acute myocardial ischemia, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia, becoming Causes of sudden death of drug users.

In addition, in practice, cases of methamphetamine abusers who suddenly stop taking drugs for a period of time and then suddenly take a small amount of drugs suddenly die. Studies have found that the body develops tolerance after frequent use of methamphetamine or MDMA. After quitting or stopping taking drugs for a period of time, the tolerance disappears and the body recovers its sensitivity to drugs. At this time, a small amount of drugs such as methamphetamine will cause a strong reaction in the body, resulting in acute and severe vasoconstriction, spasm, acute myocardial ischemia, severe arrhythmia and even sudden death.

In addition, heavy drinking can increase the cardiotoxicity of amphetamine-type stimulants, so that taking small doses of amphetamine-type stimulants may also lead to sudden death of drug users. In addition, weight-loss amphetamine-type stimulants can cause severe damage to the heart valve of the user and even cause sudden death.

In addition to the effects on the heart, taking large doses of methamphetamine or MDMA at one time can cause skeletal muscle spasm and myolysis in the drug user, malignant fever, death, or severe damage to kidney function. This is also amphetamine excitement Agent one of the most common hazards. Amphetamine-type stimulants can also cause damage to cerebral blood vessels, leading to cerebral hemorrhage. ^[13]

Detoxification method of amphetamine drugs

Once you become addicted to amphetamines, it will take a long and complicated process to cure them. Because amphetamine-type stimulants have no established physical dependence, their detoxification treatments are mainly symptomatic and psychological treatments. In the face of amphetamine-type stimulant abusers, drug treatment is mainly to stop drug use and carry out psychological treatment. ^[4]

For example: methamphetamine's main toxic reaction is mental disorder. Clinical observations indicate that as long as cessation of amphetamine-type stimulants is stopped, even if no special drug treatment is given, pathological symptoms such as delusional hallucinations of drug users will disappear and return to normal. However, even if these psychopathological symptoms disappear (rather than cure), they will leave a deep mark on the central nervous system of drug users. Even if they stop using drugs for several years or decades, drug users may still have some hallucinations such as delusions Ischemia-like psychiatric symptoms can also recur after being cured for several years or more under the influence of other factors. Therefore, the psychotherapy of amphetamine-type stimulants is a long-term process. ^[4]