Stimulants

Jeremy Luo
What are Stimulants?
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which temporarily
improve either mental or physical function or both.
Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanc
ed alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among oth
ers.
Stimulants can be very lethal if abused, but they can al
so be quite helpful in some medical instances if used c
orrectly. We will explore different stimulants and their
effects.
Examples of Stimulants
Examples include
 cocaine,
methamphetamine,
amphetamines,
methylphenidate,
nicotine,
MDMA
Exploring Three Major Stimulants
Basic Definitions
Cocaine
Cocaine comes in two for
ms. Powder cocaine is a h
ydrochloride salt, made fr
om the leaf of the coca pl
ant. “Crack” is a smokeab
le form of cocaine that is
processed with ammonia
or baking soda and water,
and heated to remove the
hydrochloride.
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth)
Methamphetamine is a powerful
stimulant, originally derived from
amphetamine. It comes in clear c
rystals or powder and easily dissol
ves in water or alcohol. Although
most of the methamphetamine u
sed in the United States comes fr
om “superlabs,” it is also made in
small laboratories using inexpens
ive over-the-counter and often to
xic ingredients (such as drain clea
ner, battery acid, and antifreeze).
Nicotine
Nicotine is a toxic colorless or
yellowish oily liquid that is th
e chief active constituent of to
bacco. It acts as a stimulant in
small doses, but in larger amo
unts blocks the action of auto
nomic nerve and skeletal mus
cle cells. Despite its infamy as
a “killer addiction”, research h
as shown nicotine may be hel
pful in some instances.
Exploring Three Major Stimulants
Effects and Uses
Cocaine, Crystal Meth, and Nicotine
How are they Abused?
Stimulants are abused in several ways, depending on the drug. The
y can be:
Swallowed in pill form.
“Snorted” in powder form, through the nostrils, where the drug is
absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues.
Injected, using a needle and syringe, to release the drug directly in
to a vein.
Heated in crystal form and smoked (inhaled into the lungs).
Injecting or smoking a stimulant produces a rapid high—or rush
—because the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, inte
nsifying its effects. Snorting or swallowing stimulants produces a
high that is less intense but lasts longer.
Cocaine
Powder cocaine is usually snorted or injected (also call
ed “mainlining”), or it can be rubbed onto various tissu
es, such as the gums. Street dealers generally dilute coc
aine with other substances (such as cornstarch, talcum
powder, or sugar), with active drugs , or with other sti
mulants (such as amphetamines). Crack cocaine is ofte
n smoked in a glass pipe.
Crystal Meth
Methamphetamine is swallowed, s
norted, injected, or smoked. “Ice,” a
smokeable form of methamphetam
ine, is a large, usually clear crystal o
f high purity that is smoked, like cr
ack, in a glass pipe.
Nicotine
Nicotine is taken in several ways. The most common a
nd quick-acting manner is smoking. The user lights a c
igarette, draws the smoke into the lungs, and exhales it
. The effects of the nicotine can be felt within ten seco
nds, and they usually last between fifteen minutes and
an hour.
Since Nicotine can be taken as a liquid, it can be inject
ed or swallowed. Amounts larger than 30-60 mgs can c
ause death in less than 45 minutes.
Can these drugs be lethal?
Yes, in rare instances, sudden death can occur on the fi
rst use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. And, like
most drugs, stimulants can be lethal when taken in lar
ge doses or mixed with other substances. Stimulant ov
erdoses can lead to heart problems, strokes, hyperther
mia (elevated body temperature), and convulsions, wh
ich if not treated immediately can result in death. Abu
se of both cocaine and alcohol compounds the danger,
increasing the risk of overdose.
Teen Druggies
Powder cocaine: 1.6 percent of 8th-
graders, 2.7 percent of 10th-graders, and
3.4 percent of 12th-graders
Crack cocaine: 1.1 percent of 8th- 20% of
graders, 1.2 percent of 10th-graders, and American
1.3 percent of 12th-graders
Methamphetamine: 1.0 percent of 8th- teens
graders, 1.6 percent of 10th-graders, and smoke
1.2 percent of 12th-graders
Exploring Three Major Stimulants
Medical Uses
Medical Uses
As we have clearly seen, stimulants are likel
y to be deadly if abused or used incorrectly.
Although, through medical professionals, o
ur technology and our studies, we have fou
nd ways to make the drugs beneficial for so
me.
Cocaine and Crystal Meth
Cocaine is used as a topical anesthetic for eye and ear surgery.
It is also used in a concoction called Brompton's Cocktail. Bro
mpton's Cocktail is a mixture of morphine, cocaine, vodka, an
d cherry syrup. It is given to cancer patients. The morphine is
to kill the pain, while the cocaine is to counteract the sleepine
ss caused by the morphine.
There are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, such as t
he treatment of narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder, and -- f
or short-term use -- obesity; but these medical uses are limite
d.
Nicotine
The development of nicoti
ne patches for smokers tryi
ng to quit, as well as studies
showing that smokers seem
ed to be protected from cer
tain diseases, helped spur r
esearch into medical use of
nicotine.
Conclusion
Stimulants are drugs that create a temporary improvemen
t in body functions. If they are abused, they can be quite d
eadly.
Some stimulants, like cocaine, can cause instant death on
the first dose.
Nearly all stimulants are deemed to have horrific and scarr
ing side affects to the human body.
Although medical uses are available for some stimulants, t
hese are extremely limited and must be prescribed or han
dled by top medical professionals. It is best, therefore, not
to get your hands on them.