Modifying Ephredrine: Amphetamines

Question 1

when was amphetamine synthesized and why did this happen? was it common?

Answer 1

• synthesized in 1887 in search for a substitute for the naturally occurring stimulant ephedrine
• available in the late 1800s but was not very common until the patent medicine and powder use

Question 2

when was methamphetamine first synthesized? was it common?

Answer 2

• 1919

- neither this nor amphetamines were common until the 1903s and there’s no real reason why

Question 3

what are the effects of ephedrine?

Answer 3

• respiratory stimulating effects and bronchodilator effects

Question 4

what was the trade name that amphetamines were first marketed by and what was the administration and what was it used to help?

Answer 4

• marketed under the trade name “Benzedrine”
• in the form of a nasal inhaler for the treatment of asthma and nasal congestion resulting from colds or allergies
• available without a prescription, cheap and found in every local drug store
• people realized quickly that it had euphoric stimulating effects and that if the nasal inhaler was cracked open the cloth strip containing amphetamines could be chewed or brewed in a tea

Question 5

when did amphetamines become available in tablet form - what was the trade name and what was it used for?

Answer 5

• available in tablet form as Dexedrine starting in 1937

- recommended use was for narcolepsy (sudden sleeping episodes), weight reduction, and attention deficit disorder (ADD)

Question 6

what was the military use for amphetamines

Answer 6

• used to combat fatigue and peaked during the Second World War
• a huge surplus in Japan following WWII that lead to high levels of use - this was when amphetamine psychosis was first discovered

Question 7

when was the use for amphetamines high in Canada in the US

Answer 7

• growing in the US and Canada until the 1950s
• in the US it was only in 1965 that a medical prescription was required to obtain medication with amphetamines
• amphetamines were only listed on the controlled substance act in 1971

Question 8

what are the methods of administration for amphetamines? “Speedball” - what happened after?

Answer 8

• oral, inhalation and injection routes (injection is always seen as a negative form of drug use)
• some amphetamines were was prescribed to combat heroin addicts which is ironic bc mixing heroin and a stimulant is known as “speedball”
• increasing recognition among the medical community and drug users and often lead to psychotic behaviour and aggression (“speed freak”)

Question 9

When did the decline of amphetamines start?

Answer 9

• a decline in the 1970s

Question 10

Phenmetrazine

Answer 10

• marketed as the antiobesity drug Preludin and street name ‘bam’
• popularity in the 1960s and 70s
• favourite drug of the Beatles

Question 11

when did methamphetamine overtake cocaine in popularity - why was this the case?

Answer 11

• overtook cocaine in the 1990s
• one reason is bc cocaine has to be imported into the US and Canada but methamphetamine can be easily produced and ease of supply

Question 12

what are the main ingredients for methamphetamine?

Answer 12

• ephedrine (or pseudoephedrine) which is available in many over the counter nasal decongestants

Question 13

The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act

Answer 13

• passed in the US in 2005

- used to regulate OTC sales of substances that could be used to produce methamphetamine

Question 14

how is methamphetamine taken and who uses it more?

Answer 14

• taken as oral tablets, injection as a powder, and smoking using crystals or rocks
• called “crank” or “ice”
• popular in the homosexual community and its 5-10x more common than the general public - they call it “tina” or “Chrissy” and associate with unprotected sex and needle sharing