Amphetamines and Methamphetamines

Rx Names: Dexedrine, Benzedrine, Desoxyn, Methedrine
Street Names: Uppers, Speed, Pep pills

Pharmacology:
Increase release norepinephrine and dopamine at the synapse while decreasing their removal. Stimulates the brain and Sympathetic branches of Nervous system by increasing alertness, reaction times, enhancing sense of mental-physical activity and anorexia as the major reasons for its use.

Rx Requests:
For weight loss and rapidly completing job or home obligations.

Illicit Street use:
Is for its mental high and enhanced physical and mental activity.

Continued Chronic use:
Elevates Heart rate, Blood Pressure, loss of focus which increases decision making errors, and non stop talking. Also requires increasing doses to maintain its stimulating effect; resulting in paranoid delusions and severe fatigue if briefly stopped.

Ecstasy

(MDMA) a methylene-dioxy derivative of amphetamine and methamphetamine
It is one of the so-called "designer drugs"

Often abbreviated "E" or "X" is an is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs.

MDMA can induce euphoria, a sense of intimacy with others, and diminished anxiety. Many studies, particularly in the fields of psychology and cognitive therapy, have suggested that MDMA has therapeutic benefits and facilitates therapy sessions in certain individuals, a practice which it had formally been used for in the past. Clinical trials are now testing the therapeutic potential of MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety associated with terminal cancer.

DMA is criminalized in most countries under a United Nations (U.N.) agreement, and its possession, manufacture, or sale may result in criminal prosecution, although some limited exceptions exist for scientific and medical research.

MDMA is one of the most widely used recreational drugs in the world and is taken in a variety of contexts far removed from its roots in psychotherapeutic settings. It is commonly associated with dance parties (or "raves") and electronic dance music. MDMA is occasionally known for being taken in conjunction with psychedelic drugs, such as LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, or even common drugs such as cannabis. As this practice has become more prevalent, most of the more common combinations have been given nicknames, such as "candy flipping", for MDMA combined with LSD, "hippy flipping", for MDMA with psilocybin or "kitty flipping" for MDMA with Ketamine.

Many users use mentholated products while taking MDMA for its cooling sensation while experiencing the drug's effects. Examples include menthol cigarettes, Vicks and lozenges. This sometimes has deleterious results on the upper respiratory tract.

Cocaine

Rx Name: Cocaine HCl
Street Names: Coke, Snow, Nose Candy

Pharmacology:
Cocaine (methylbenzoylecgonine) is an alkaloidal substance found in the leaves of the Coca plant. Although Norcocaine is a very minor metabolite, it’s the only metabolite having a psychoactive effect. When consumed with alcohol, it forms Cocaethylene or ethylcocaine that penetrates the brain barrier, so they get a longer and higher high. Ethylcocaine has a greater cardiotoxic effect than Cocaine and a slower excretion rate than Cocaine.

Not available by Rx
Limited medical use in USA as a topical anesthetic and vasoconstrictive agent being limited in use to Plastic Surgeons, Otolaryngologists, ophthmaologists and ER physicians for lacerations and nose bleeds. Rarely used as a diagnostic test in Horner’s Syndrome.

Illicit Use
Illicit Use represents its primary usage. Sold as Cocaine HCL, a fine white powder. It’s abused for its stimulant and euphoric effect. It’s highly addictive as the dosage must be constantly increased to maintain its high stimulant and euphoric effect and in prolonging its duration of effect. Subsequent mental confusion and paranoid delusions followed by seizures, cardiac arrhymias and death. Heating Cocaine in water, adding Sodium Bicarbonate to remove the HCL, then extracted with ether which dries to a chalky, white substance called "crack". It produces a quicker, higher and longer lasting high than Cocaine, thus this person is becomes addicted and must have the drug.

Diagnosis:
Urine: primary metabolite found from Cocaine use is benzoylecgonine. A positive urine reveals 150 ng/ml or higher of this metabolite. Levels as high as 100,000 have been found in chronic abusers.
Blood: Presence of the benzo metabolite indicates Cocaine use within last 4-6 hours and can last up to 24 hours especially if Cocaethylene was formed by combining Cocaine with Alcohol ingestion.
Sweat: Cocaine reaches maximum levels only within 24 hrs of use using sweat patches.

See also other drug categories

• Hallucinogens
• Narcotics/Analgesics/Opiates
• Depressants/Sedatives/Hypnotics