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Speed addiction
Speed addiction often begins with recreational use. When you use speed or amphetamine for a long period of time, you may find that over time you no longer function well without speed. Then you may be dealing with a speed addiction.
Speed addiction
Speed is the common term for amphetamines. The drug is often used as a "pep drug" and is therefore also called "pep. The drug is very mood enhancing and gives you a lot of energy and focus. Speed is therefore often used recreationally because it gives you energy to do things for hours without getting tired - such as dancing and talking.
The drug usually occurs in powder form in a white or yellow color and sometimes as a white-gray or brown paste. Amphetamine or speed is often snorted, smoked, swallowed or injected. The duration of action varies depending on how you ingested speed.
Other substance addictions
How does speed work?
Speed effects
The effects usually last three to six hours, depending on the amount you use and how you use it. Speed usually works after a few minutes if you snort it and after 15 to 30 minutes if you swallow it. It is absorbed into your brain through your blood and mainly affects the substances dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine makes you feel happy and confident. Noradrenaline affects your fight or flight response. Noradrenaline causes your heart rate and breathing to speed up. It also raises your blood pressure and suppresses your sense of hunger.
Symptoms of speed use
People under the influence of speed are often very energetic and talkative, but they can also be anxious, irritable and aggressive. In severe cases, you may suffer from delusions, psychosis and paranoia. The most common effects of speed are:
– Merry
– Energetic
– Alert
– Increased body temperature
– Chatty
– Faster breathing
– Increased blood pressure
– Faster heart rate
– Increased libido
– Blissful feeling
– Suppressed appetite
– Tense muscles and jaws
– Dry mouth
– Large pupils
Speed addiction symptoms
Use of amphetamines often begins as experimental use. When you feel you cannot function without speed, you probably have a speed addiction. The symptoms below are the most common characteristics in people with an addiction to speed.
- Need more and more speed for the same effect
• Prolonged speed use
• Unsuccessful attempts to stop
• Spending a lot of time getting speed
• Craving speed
• Failing to meet obligations at work or home
• Not quitting despite negative consequences
• Giving up other activities
• Not quitting despite physical danger
• Withdrawal symptoms
Quitting speed
Speed withdrawal symptoms
When you try to quit speed you experience a number of withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the amount and duration of your speed use, the symptoms can vary from person to person. In addition to physical symptoms, you often experience mental withdrawal symptoms from speed. The most common withdrawal symptoms with speed are:
– Fatigue
– Sleep problems
– Difficulty talking or moving around
– (Muscle) pain
– Fear
– Depressive feelings
– Irritability
– Nightmares
Speed addiction consequences
Long-term use of amphetamines has serious consequences for your physical and mental health. In the short term, speed addiction can make you suffer from insomnia and depressive feelings. Speed can also cause damage to your brain and to your heart. Speed speeds up your heart rate and raises your blood pressure. This puts you at risk for cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest or cerebral hemorrhage.
Overuse of speed can create habituation, causing you to need more and more to achieve the same effect. This increases the risk of overdose. Injecting speed can also lead to an overdose.
Master your
speed addiction
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Last updated on 26-09-2023
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