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Amphetamines ('Speed', 'Meth', 'Ice')Amphetamine use is illegal and potentially dangerous What are amphetamines? 'Speed' is the term commonly used to describe amphetamines whereas methamphetamines are usually called 'Ice' or 'crystal meth'. The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey reports that around 1 in 10 Australians aged 14 years and over have used amphetamines. Amongst people aged in their 20's, about 1 in 5 Australians have used amphetamines. Amphetamines are readily available throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas. Almost all the amphetamines used in Australia are methamphetamine. What will happen to me if I am found to be using amphetamines?The ADF has a ZERO Tolerance policy on the use of amphetamines by its members. As a deterrent measure the ADF conducts ongoing random drug testing of ADF members (minimum of 10 % of members per annum). The length of time amphetamines remain in a person's body ensures that those members taking amphetamines will return a positive urine test days after they have taken the drug. The breakdown products of amphetamines are also deposited in hair and hair drug tests will return a positive test result months after the last use of amphetamines. ADF members hold themselves to a set of values – these values are not consistent with breaking the law and supporting criminal activities. The procuring of amphetamines supports criminality. The use of these types of drugs is not only dangerous, but also threatens your career and financial well-being, and affects your family's security. It also impacts on your mates who are often assumed to be guilty by association when you are caught using amphetamines. Under Defence Instruction (General) Personnel 15–2, use of amphetamines by members of the ADF will usually lead to disciplinary and/or administrative action to terminate the member's appointment or initiate discharge proceedings. What will happen to me if I self refer for using party drugs?Self-referral is a once only opportunity. It enables those members who feel they may be dependent on a prohibited substance, or those who have had previous prohibited substance involvement, to access timely and appropriate treatment. Under Defence Instruction (General) Administrative 45–2 health care professionals are obligated to report illicit drug use that is not already known to the chain of command. A request for self-referral does not prevent a Service authority from administratively terminating an appointment or discharging a member. However, Service authorities may look upon self-referral favourably when considering discharge or retention action. This will also depend on whether the member:
What do amphetamines do?Amphetamines work very quickly and speed up the heart and breathing rates and give the user a sense of euphoria and well-being. Users may also experience heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat. Amphetamine use also increases blood pressure, dries out the mouth, increases sweating, enlarges the pupils and can cause headaches. The user will feel more energetic, alert and confident, with a heightened sense of well-being. They may be noticed to be extremely alert, talkative, restless and excited. They will have difficulty in being able to get to sleep. Panic attacks can also occur. Reduced appetite and irritability is common and some people become anxious, hostile, aggressive and paranoid. Amphetamines have high habit-forming potential, and people who use them regularly for a period of time experience severe physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when they stop using them. The purity of these highly addictive drugs is extremely variable and overdose can easily occur. After taking Ice, users often become agitated and their behaviour may become unpredictable (eg. friendly and peaceful one moment then angry and frightened the next). How dangerous are amphetamines?The blood pressure of the user increases due to the constriction of blood vessels which may in turn produce severe headaches, or an irregular heartbeat. Seizures, stroke or permanent brain damage may result from injury to the small vessels supplying blood to the brain or the user may have a heart attack. After a number of days on methamphetamines users are typically depressed and this depression may last for several days. During this period the potential for suicide is high. With prolonged use the user will often develop a drug induced psychosis which can last from days to years. The main characteristic of methamphetamine psychosis is the presence of prominent hallucinations, paranoid delusions and bizarre behaviour. Methamphetamine hallucinations affect all five senses.
Dependence on amphetamines occurs very easily and users find it extremely hard to stop taking these drugs.
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Amphetamines are drugs which belong to a group of drugs called 'psycho-stimulants' which speed up the messages going to and from the brain to the body. Most illicit amphetamines are produced in backyard laboratories and, unlike legally prescribed amphetamines, often contain other drugs and substances that can have adverse or harmful effects on the user who has taken the drug. Purity levels vary considerably and range from 1% to 99% pure.