The main effect of of the Central Stimulants is that they increase the activity in the central nerve system. The stimulation does not make the brain work better, but forcing it, and the rest of the central nerve system, to work harder and faster. This will of course often eventually lead to permanent damage.

Amphetamine

Amphetamine was developed as early as 1887. It was thought to be a medicine for colds – runny noses. The drug remained unknown until 1927. In World War II amphetamine was used on soldiers to increase performance and decrease the need of sleep and food. The end of World War II left large stocks of amphetamine and may have given it its strong foothold among addicts. The use of amphetamine has since then been strongly linked to sex.

Amphetamine occurs mostly as a white, pink, or beige colored powder. In the 50s, addicts started to crush the tablets and dissolve them in water for injecting the solution, giving it increased effect. Since then, injection has been the main intake among addicts. People that haven’t developed an addiction may rather snort it as a powder through the nose, mixed in a drink or swallow it wrapped in a piece of toilet paper (sometimes called a “Bomb”).

Effect

The main effects of amphetamine is, as mentioned above, increased stamina, increased self-esteem and decreased need for sleep. These are some of the effects that may occur:

• Restless and energetic behavior

• Dry mouth

• Uncontrolled tension in the jaws

• Talkative

• Self-confident

• Irritated, aggressive

If injected, Amphetamine will give a strong effect instantly that lasts for about 2-3 hours. If swallowed, the drug will kick in after about 20-30 minutes, giving a reduced effect compared to the injected, but under a longer period. When snorted the effect will kick in after a after a few minutes.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is similar to amphetamine when it comes to the chemical structure and effects. You can say that methamphetamine is a more potent variant of amphetamine with a stronger effect that lasts longer.

Methamphetamine often appears as powder. There’s also a crystallized form of methamphetamine – “Ice” – that that can be smoked. The effects of “Ice”, however, is much stronger and can be compared to crack (cocaine) but lasts much longer.

Cocaine

Cocaine originally comes from the Coca leaf, growing on the Coca bush mainly in the Andean mountains. The leafs of the coca bush have been chewed by the mountain Indians for a long time and is considered to relieve hunger and fatigue. The leafs, however, only contains small amounts of cocaine – up to about one percent. In 1860 concentrated cocaine produced from coca leaves and used as a light anaesthetic during eye surgery and other surgical procedures. It have also been used in psychiatric treatments with moderate success. In the food industry Coca Cola had extracts of coca leaves in their drink by the year 1903. Because the discovery of the negative effects of cocaine, such as confusion addiction, poisoning and death it later became forbidden and classed as a drug in many parts of the world.

Cocaine often comes in the form of white crystalline powder or small “stones”. Free base (smokable) and crack usually has the form of gray or yellowish white lumps. All though injection of crack is possible, snorting through the nose is the most common way of intake. Cocaine can also be smoked as the free base if mixed with bicarbonate, cocaine and water and smoked trough a glass pipe or a empty soda can.

Effects

One or more of the described effects may occur by using cocaine:

• Mental well being, self-confidence, talkative

• Increased energy, decreased need for sleep

• Loss of appetite

• Anaesthetic effects (around the nose if snorted)

• Aggressive

The effect of cocaine will generally not last that long. By snorting through the nose is kicks in after a couple of minutes and reaches its peak after about 15-30 minutes. If injected, the effect will kick in immediately and lasts for about 40 – 90 minutes. Smoking the base or crack cocaine will give an immediate effect, that lasts only for about 5-20 minutes.

Khat

Like Cocaine, Khat comes from a plant – Cath Edulis. It grows wild around the horn of Africa and grow wildly around the Horn of Africa and around the Arabian Peninsula. It’s a bush that can grow into a smaller tree. The fresh sprouts of the plant is harvested, because of its active substances cathine and katinon. It’s similar to amphetamine when it comes to effect and possible damages. Khat is a fresh product that quickly looses much of it’s effect when dried (while transported) and is therefore mainly popular by people living in Africa.

The drug appears as a bundled green/red stem with green leaves. The bundle is digested by chewing the leaves and stem and swallowing the plant juice. The usual daily dose is about 110 – 300 grams.

Effects

One or more of the described effects may occur by using Khat:

• Talkative

• Bracing, refreshing

• Irritated, aggressive

The effects may occurs within about 30 minutes and lasts for up to 6 hours.

Learn more about drugs

• Cannabis – Marijuana, Hashish, Hash oil

• Central Depressive Drugs – Benzodiazepines, GHB

• Hallucinogenic Drugs – LSD, Ecstasy, Phenethylamines, Magic Mushrooms, Peyote Cactus

• Inhaled Drugs – Butane Gas, Poppers

• Opiates – Opium, Morphine, Heroin, Methadone, Subutex, Suboxone, Fentanyl

• PCP and Ketamine – Fencyklidin, Ketamine

• How to see signs of drug addiction