A lot of people seem to have a very one-dimensional understanding of what amphetamines are. The public mind might quickly jump to gaunt and emaciated figures smoking crystal from a pipe or mugshots featuring people with sunken eyes and severe skin problems. While these results of a subset of amphetamines (commonly known as crystal methamphetamine or ‘crystal meth’) certainly aren’t made up, the reality is that hundreds of thousands of people around the world, many of them children, rely on amphetamines as a medicinal drug.
Although there is some disagreement over the exact discovery of amphetamines, they were used as a treatment for depression, narcolepsy, and asthma between the 1940s and 1970s and have been known to the medical community for more than 100 years. Like many other drugs (think ketamine, barbituates, benzos, and more), amphetamines found a second life in the recreational market after strict international controls were imposed in the 70s. Although they’re still used in the treatment of certain conditions like ADHD, traumatic brain injury, and exogenous obesity today, their use is heavily regulated.
(Rasmussen), (Morelli and Tognotti)
As a drug and alcohol rehab clinic, we support the legitimate medical use of these substances when prescribed by a physician. Unfortunately, the vast majority of patients that we treat for substance abuse did not obtain them from a hospital, nor were they trying to treat a medical condition. When amphetamines are abused, whether to experience a euphoric high or to stay awake for extended periods of time, the long-term effects on both body and mind can be catastrophic.
Gladstones Clinic has a proven track record and more than 20 years’ experience in helping people recover from ketamine addiction.
