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| Introduction
Stimulants act like adrenaline and your blood pressure and body temperature rises stimulating the nervous system and making you alert and energetic. There are two main types of stimulants available in New Zealand: Amphetamines and Cocaine.
 Amphetamines
Usually known as speed, whiz or Go-ey
Form
Amphetamine Sulphate- a brown fudge like substance.
Methylamphetamine is usually a creamy white or sandy coloured powder or clear colourless crystals. Methylamphetamine is much stronger than Amphetamine sulphate.
Desired Effects
Within a short time of taking speed there a "rush" through the body and a feeling of being energetic, alert and self-confident.
The energy effects are marked and sleep is very difficult if not impossible.
Brain and nervous system activity is stimulated, pupils become enlarged. Most users becomevery talkative and combined with the self confidence effects this means that many people like to use speed to socialise.
Administration
Swallowing is the least harmful way to take speed, the effects will last longer and be less extreme.
Snorting Using a rolled up banknote or a straw speed can be inhaled and absorbed through the mucous membranes in the nose.
Injecting methamphetaime dissolves readily when heated and is usually injected intravenously (into a vein). If injected subcutaneously the amphetamines tend to burn tissue and can produce abscesses.
Addictive Potential
 Speed is not physically addictive
Tolerance develops slowly
Speed is psychologically addictive
Dangers
 The main danger of speed is heart attack, muscle spasms and fits. Since its stimulant effects increase heart rate there is a danger of heart attack is you have heart problems. or are prone
to epilepsy.
There is an increased risk if speed is combined with other substances such as ecstasy, ketamine or alcohol. The consequences of this can be unpredictable.
If speed is injected there is danger of infection with blood borne viruses like Hepatitis C and to a lesser extent HIV. Since speed is often injected and a high proportion of users already have
Hepatitis C this is the greatest risk. For more information about Safer Injection techniques
CLICK HERE
Panic attacks are common amongst newer users this can lead to hyperventilation and unconsciousness.
If you are dancing or exercising there is a risk of dehydration.
High doses of speed can cause users to become catatonic, they can't move or speak. This can be very dangerous. Seek medical assistance immediately.
Since the most speed in New Zealand is relatively low grade there is a risk of infections from contaminants if it is injected. Filtering your drugs will remove many of these by products of the
manufacturing process For more information about filtering CLICK HERE
Undesired Side Effects
What goes up must come down; speed forces you to metabolise very quickly. Coming down off speed can therefore be unpleasant since you will feel drained, weak and tired. paranoia and depression can be experienced this increases in proportion to the dose taken.
Speed can trigger underlying mental health problems particularly schizophrenia.
Jaw clenching, teeth grinding, excessive sweating and headaches are common side effects with higher doses. Delusions and paranoia can occur at very high doses.
Whilst the physical effects decline after 3 to 5 hours, the mental effects take longer to subside. You may not be able to sleep for up to 12 hours and you will be jittery and nervous.
For men speed can affect your ability to achieve an erection. You may feel very horny but be unable to perform.
Harm Reduction
Not using Speed is the safest option.
If you do choose to use Speed:
Do not use alone; you may lose consciousness which can lead to accidents such as burns, mechanical injuries or choking. Heart attacks can also occur and if you use opiates alone you may not survive one.
Dehydration can be a problem is you are dancing or exercising whilst using speed. You will need to rehydrate yourself by drinking around half a litre of water every hour. Drinking too much water can also be dangerous. If you are overheating use water to cool your skin and reduce your body temperature.
Dosage is difficult with illicit drugs, you will not know the strength of the speed. Therefore take a half dose and wait until the it comes on (about and hour) before deciding whether to top up or not.
Don't mix your drugs; speed effects can be unpredictable particularly when used with alcohol. ecstasy or ketamine.
Coming down off speed can be unpleasant. Its best to relax and warm up, have a shower, put on clean clothes and have hot drinks such as tea. Its easy to catch a cold after clubbing, especially if you're wearing sweaty damp clothes. Although you probably won't feel like it, food and drink will help your body recover and sleep is the best medicine.
If you are going to inject speed:
Always use a new needle and syringe, one for each person using. Don't share needles and syringes.
The sharing of drug preparation equipment such as spoons, tourniquets, filters etc has been shown to transmit Hepatitis C. Prepare your drugs for injection separately.
Always boil and filter your drugs, most speed in New Zealand is relatively impure and the level of contamination is high. You can reduce these risks by using a filter. CLICK HERE for more information
about filtering drugs.
 Cocaine
Cocaine is uncommon in New Zealand, and it is generally very expensive.
Form
Cocaine hydrochloride is usually a white powder and usually between 30 and 50% purity.
Desired Effects
Felt in seconds the effect rarely lasts more than half an hour. The effects depend on the setting in which its taken, how often its taken and the user's tolerance level.
Cocaine creates a sense of euphoria and well being, stress and anxiety fall away, energy levels rise and users become active, chatty and often want to dance or have sex.
Administration
Snorting Most users divide the cocaine into "lines' with a razor blade or credit card. then sniff it up one nostril through a straw or rolled up bank note.
Swallowing is the least harmful way to take cocaine, the effects will last longer, take longer to come on and be milder.
Injecting Injecting cocaine intravenously (into a vein) intensifies its effects and creates a sudden "rush". The risk of heart attack if significantly increased through injection.
Addictive Potential
Cocaine is not physically addictive
Tolerance develops quickly
Cocaine is highly psychologically addictive
Dangers
Because of the short term effects of cocaine there is a high propensity to take more and more. This can be dangerous as tolerance develops rapidly and increased doses are needed to maintain the same effect.
Cocaine is sometimes mixed with opiates to create a "speedball" this can increase the addictive potential of both substances.
There is a danger of heart attack. Since its stimulant effects increase heart rate there is a danger of heart attack is you have heart problems.
If cocaine is injected there is danger of infection with blood borne viruses like Hepatitis C and to a lesser extent HIV. Since a high proportion of injecting drug users already have Hepatitis C this is the greatest risk. For more information about Safer Injection techniques CLICK HERE.
Since the most cocaine in New Zealand is relatively low purity there is a risk of infections from contaminants used to "cut" the drug if it is injected. Filtering your drugs will remove many of these by products of the manufacturing process For more information about filtering CLICK HERE
Undesired Side Effects
What goes up must come down; cocaine forces you to metabolise very quickly. Coming down off cocaine can therefore be unpleasant since you will feel drained, weak and tired. paranoia and depression can be experienced this increases in proportion to the dose and frequency which it is taken.
The payback for an instant intense high is a sudden deep low as you come down. Commonly people take more cocaine and end up using cyclically. This is dangerous as tolerance develops quickly and psychological addiction can set in.
Whilst the physical effects decline after 15 minutes, the mental effects take much longer to subside. You may not be able to sleep for several hours and you will be jittery and nervous.
Harm Reduction
Not using Cocaine is the safest option
If you choose to use cocaine:
Avoid prolonged cycles of use. psychological dependence develops relatively quickly.
Don't mix your drugs; the risk of psychological dependence increases.
Do not use alone; Heart attacks can occur and if you use cocaine alone you may not survive one.
If you choose to inject Cocaine:
Always use a new needle and syringe, one for each person using. Don't share Needles and Syringes.
The sharing of drug preparation equipment such as spoons, tourniquets, filters etc has been shown to transmit Hepatitis C. Prepare your drugs for injection separately.
Always boil and filter your drugs, most cocaine in New Zealand is relatively impure and the level of contamination is high. You can reduce these risks by using a filter. CLICK HERE for more information about filtering drugs. |
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