Understanding the Effects of Speed and Other Substance Abuses

Uppers such as speed and other amphetamines are frequently abused by people looking to experience a rush and a "high". In the long term, the effects of this kind of substance abuse can be quite debilitating.

Amphetamines are a form of synthetic stimulant. They are rarely used in the field of medicine, with the exception of dexedrine, which doctors use to treat narcolepsy, and the amphetamine-like drug methylphenidate, which is used treat ADD. These stimulants are common street drugs, however, because of the high that they produce.

Amphetamines are usually taken in a powdered form, either swallowed, smoked or snorted.  They are highly addictive and while small doses are not particularly dangerous (amphetamines were available over-the-counter until just a few decades ago), they can be dangerous if abused. In small doses they increase your heart rate and reduce your appetite, and this means that many athletes use them to try to help them cut weight or reduce their bodyfat percentages. However, when an amphetamine user comes down from the effects of the drug, it can take days for them to return to normal again. The "downer" that comes after the high can be powerful and this means that people often seek another hit.

Long term, repeated exposure can lead to a lack of sleep and a greatly reduced food intake. This reduces the user's resistance to disease and can leave them feeling tired, drained and unwell. Prolonged sleep deprivation leads to mood swings, aggression, paranoia and depression. An overdose of amphetamines can put excessive stress on the heart, potentially leading to heart failure.

The good news is that it takes just a few of months to get clean from abusing amphetamines. The first few days or weeks can be difficult, but after a while the body can restore itself to normal functioning. The sooner the addict stops using the drug, the less likely there will be any lasting damage done.

Drug and Alcohol Detox Before Rehab

 

When an addiction is severe enough, it requires a drug or alcohol medical detox to successfully clean the drugs and alcohol out of the body in a safe way that doesn't allow for any medical side effects. This type of detoxification is quite often necessary before an individual can enter into a drug or alcohol rehab, residential addiction treatment facilities, or into sober living programs.

This first step -- though often overshadowed by long-term stays in a residential rehab -- is the most important step in the path to recovery and sobriety. This is the initial cleaning out of the body, and must be done so under strict medical supervision. You see, the drugs and alcohol don't leave the body amicably -- instead, they fight back. While the drugs fight back, the brain and body is also going through withdrawals and is fighting for the drugs to be back in the system (the overpowering urge to go out and use more drugs). This can be a very dangerous situation if the detox is not performed under the strict medical care of a knowledgeable detox professional.

In the cases of a detox that was not performed correctly, in a supervised medical facility, the individual undergoing detox is open to a wide range of dangerous side effects including seizures, heart failure, and even death.

Simply put, if you are considering undergoing detox, make sure that the detox facility is safe, supervised, and the process is performed under the direct care of a knowledgeable medical professional.

Dr. Wall's Detox and Recovery Program Through DetoxCA is Safe, Medically Supervised, and Physician-Owned Detox Facility.

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What You Need to Know About Ketamine (K, Special K, Vitamin K)

Ketamine is known on the street as Vitamin K, K, or Special K.  It is a dangerous and powerful drug that has become increasingly popular in the past decade. The legal uses of ketamine include providing anesthesia by doctors and veterinarians during surgery, sedation for intensive care units and as a pain reliever in emergency medicine in critical cases.  It is known to have side effects such as hallucinations, rapid pulse, delirium, disassociation and impaired judgment and memory. It can also cause cardiac issues and respiratory problems.

 It is not recommended for long term use by doctors and recreational users put themselves at risk for many problems. Chronic users may develop memory problems, amnesia type episodes of irrational behavior, depression, and cognitive impairments that can be irreversible.  When used in conjunction with other sedatives such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates and alcohol, ketamine will increase the effect of those substances.

Ketamine is meant to be administered in controlled doses under close medical supervision. Unfortunately, recreational users often have no idea of the dosage or purity of the ketamine they are consuming.  Their ketamine may be “cut” and mixed with other drugs by people who sell it for a profit, which makes the ketamine exceedingly dangerous and unpredictable and even deadly. Because ketamine is often injected, the user is also in danger of contracting infections or diseases, if shared needles are used. Powder form can also be snorted.

Ketamine is reported to be relatively easy to obtain. Because it is used by veterinarians, it has led to veterinarian’s offices experiencing an increase in break-ins to obtain the drug.

Ketamine is one of the few psychedelic drugs that is addictive. This makes it extremely dangerous because chromic use has been proven to create cognitive problems and psychiatric issues. As you can see, there is nothing good or special about the recreational use of “vitamin K” aka “special K”.