Speed is an illegal stimulant drug that’s made of amphetamine. While this substance may be indicated for the treatment of some medical conditions, illicit speed pills are used for recreational purposes or to help people stay awake for prolonged periods.

This guide addresses questions like “what is speed?”, “what is speed made of?”, and “what is speed used for?”. You will also discover how to connect with science-backed and compassionate care for substance abuse [1].

What Is The Speed Drug?

Speed is a powerful drug that makes your brain and body work faster. It belongs to a group of drugs called stimulants. People use speed to feel more awake and energized. It can help them stay up for a long time without getting tired. That said, speed can also be dangerous and harmful in many ways.

What Kind of Drug Is Speed?

Speed is another name for amphetamines. Amphetamines are drugs that doctors sometimes give to people to help with certain health problems, like ADHD or narcolepsy. But when people use amphetamines without a doctor’s guidance, it can be dangerous and possibly deadly. Taking speed can lead to addiction, which means you feel like you need to keep using it even if it is hurting you.

 Is Speed Meth?

Speed can be a type of meth. Meth (methamphetamine) is a potent and hazardous form of speed. It looks like white crystals or powder and can make people feel energetic and happy at first. Meth is extremely addictive, though, and can cause serious health problems [2]. Using meth even a few times can make it hard to stop.

Is Speed Cocaine?

Speed is not the same as cocaine. Both are stimulants, which means they make you feel more awake and energetic, but they are different drugs. Cocaine comes from a plant and looks like a white powder. People use it to get a quick, intense high, but it is also highly addictive and dangerous [3]. Speed and cocaine affect the brain and body in slightly different ways, but both can be very harmful.

What Is Speed Slang For? Other Names

Speed is a slang name for amphetamine and methamphetamine. People use different names to talk about speed, such as:

• Crank

• Ice

• Meth

• Crystal meth

• Glass

• Uppers

• Whizz

These names might sound fun or cool, but speed is a very dangerous drug. It can harm your body and brain, and it is very easy to get addicted to it. 

What Are the Effects of Taking Speed?

When people take speed, they might feel awake and full of energy. They can stay up for a long time and might feel very happy or excited. Some people take speed to help them work or study for many hours without getting tired. But these effects do not last, and they can lead to serious problems. What’s wrong with speed, then?

Speed Side Effects

Speed can cause many adverse side effects. Some of these happen right away, while others can show up after using speed for a while. Here are some common side effects:

• Fast heartbeat

• High blood pressure

• Feeling very hot

• Dry mouth

• Big pupils

• Feeling nervous or worried

• Not feeling hungry

• Grinding teeth

People who take speed a lot can also have serious problems like:

• Feeling very angry or violent

• Seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)

• Believing things that are not true (paranoia)

• Feeling very sad or depressed

How Long Do Speed Side Effects Last?

The positive effects from speed, like being very awake and happy, can last for a few hours. But the negative side effects can last much longer. After these feelings go away, people might feel tired, sad, or anxious for several days  – this is called a crash.

If someone takes speed a lot, the bad side effects can become more serious and last even longer. They might have trouble sleeping, feel nervous or scared, or have trouble thinking clearly. It can take a long time for these problems to go away, especially if someone has been using speed for a long time. 

Can Speed Cause Long-Term Problems?

Speed can cause many long-term problems. When people use speed for a long time, it can hurt their bodies and minds in many ways. Some of these problems include:

• Heart problems: Speed can make your heart beat very fast and raise your blood pressure. Over time, this can cause serious heart problems, like heart attacks or strokes.

• Brain damage: Speed can damage your brain cells. This can lead to problems with thinking, memory, and even movement, making everyday tasks very hard.

• Mental health issues: Long-term use of speed can cause severe mental health problems. People might feel sad, anxious, or scared all the time. They might see or hear things that aren’t there or believe things that aren’t true.

• Weight loss and malnutrition: Speed can make you lose your appetite, so you might not eat enough. This can cause extreme weight loss and make you very weak and sick.

• Dental problems: People who use speed a lot often have very bad teeth. Their teeth might rot and fall out [4], a condition known as meth mouth.

Addiction Risks of Speed

Speed is highly addictive, leading to many different risks.

• Tolerance: When people use speed, their bodies get used to it. This means they need to take more and more of the drug to feel the same effects [5]. For example, if someone starts by taking a small amount of speed to feel awake and energetic, they might soon need a larger amount to feel the same way. This is called building tolerance. As tolerance increases, people often take higher doses, which can speed up the development of dependence and addiction.

• Dependence: Dependence means that a person feels like they need speed to function normally. When someone is dependent on speed, their body and brain get used to having the drug. If they try to stop using it, they might feel sick and unhappy. This can include feeling tired, sad, anxious, or even angry. These feelings make it hard to quit using speed because the person might take more of the drug just to feel normal again.

• Cravings: Cravings are strong desires to use the drug [6]. Even after stopping speed, people can still have cravings for it. These cravings can be strong and hard to ignore. They might think about the drug all the time and feel a strong urge to use it again. Cravings can happen even after a long time of not using speed, which makes staying off the drug very challenging.

• Behavioral changes: Using speed can cause people to change how they act. They might become secretive and lie about what they are doing. They might spend a lot of time thinking about how to get more speed. They might also start to hang out with different people, often those who also use drugs. These changes can hurt their relationships with family and friends.

• Health problems: Long-term use of speed can cause serious health problems. These include heart disease, strokes, and brain damage [7]. People might also have problems with their teeth and lose a lot of weight because they do not eat enough. These health problems can make it even harder to stop using speed because the person might feel very weak and sick.

• Mental health issues: Speed can also cause mental health problems. People who use speed a lot might feel very anxious, depressed, or paranoid. They might see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations) or believe things that are not true (delusions). These mental health issues can make it very hard to live a normal life and can be very scary for the person using speed and their loved ones.

• Risky behavior: People who are addicted to speed might engage in risky activities. They might drive a car very fast or take other drugs. They might also do things that can get them in trouble with the law, like stealing to get money for more speed. This risky behavior can cause problems like accidents, injuries, or even jail time.

Speed’s Interactions With Other Substances

Using speed can be hazardous, especially when mixed with other substances. Here are some of the dangerous interactions that can happen:

• Alcohol: Mixing speed with alcohol is potentially lethal. Speed can make your heart beat faster and raise your blood pressure, and alcohol can make these effects even worse. When taken together, alcohol can hide some of the effects of speed, making it easy to drink too much. This can lead to alcohol poisoning or heart problems. People might feel less drunk than they actually are, which can lead to risky behaviors like driving while intoxicated.

• Opioids: Opioids are drugs that can relieve pain but are also very addictive. Taking speed with opioids can cause serious health problems. The combination can make your heart beat in an irregular way, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Opioids can also slow down breathing, and when mixed with speed, this can become dangerous, possibly leading to severe breathing problems [8] or even death.

• Antidepressants: Some people take antidepressants to help with depression. Mixing these with speed can be damaging. Both drugs affect the brain and taking them together can lead to a condition called serotonin syndrome. This happens when there is too much serotonin in the brain, causing symptoms like confusion, fever, and seizures. Serotonin syndrome is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment.

• Prescription medications: Mixing speed with certain prescription medications can be very dangerous. For example, medications for high blood pressure or heart disease can interact badly with speed. This can make your condition worse or cause new problems. Always talk to your doctor before taking speed if you are on any medication.

• Over-the-counter medications: Even some OTC medications can be risky to take with speed. Cold medicines, especially those that contain pseudoephedrine, can raise blood pressure and heart rate. Combining these with speed can lead to serious heart problems. Read labels and talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using these medications with speed.

• Illegal drugs: Mixing speed with other illegal drugs is extremely dangerous. Drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, or LSD can interact with speed in unpredictable ways. These combinations can lead to severe health problems, including heart attacks, seizures, or psychosis. Using multiple illegal drugs together increases the risk of overdose and can be life-threatening.

Speed Overdose

Taking too much speed can lead to an overdose. This is a very serious and life-threatening situation [9]. Here are some signs of an overdose:

• Racing heartbeat: Your heart might beat very fast or feel like it’s pounding out of your chest.

• Seizures: You might have fits or convulsions, where your body shakes uncontrollably.

• Passing out: You might lose consciousness and not be able to wake up.

• High fever: Your body might get very hot, a condition known as hyperthermia.

• Breathing problems: You might have trouble breathing or stop breathing altogether.

• Panic and hallucinations: You might feel scared and see or hear things that aren’t real.

If you think someone has overdosed on speed, get help right away. Call emergency services immediately.

Speed Drug | FAQs

Can I become addicted to speed?

Yes, you can become addicted to speed. This means you feel like you need to keep using it, even if it is hurting you.

How do I stop using speed pills?

To stop using speed pills, you should talk to a doctor. They can help you find the best way to quit safely.

Will I die if I keep taking speed?

Yes, taking speed for a long time can be very dangerous and might cause death. It can harm your heart, brain, and other parts of your body.

 Get Treatment for Speed Addiction at Gratitude Lodge

If you have been abusing stimulants like speed, reach out to Gratitude Lodge for science-backed treatment that’s covered by most major health insurance plans.

Although no medications are approved to treat stimulant addictions, supervised detox at Gratitude Lodge streamlines the withdrawal process. You’ll get 24/7 emotional and clinical care as you tackle dependence on speed and prepare yourself for inpatient treatment at one of our rehabs in Newport Beach or Long Beach, California.

Every speed addiction is different, so you can expect to access a personalized array of treatments at Gratitude Lodge, which may include:

• Counseling
• Group therapy
• Motivational therapy
• Talk therapy
• Family therapy
• Holistic therapies
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Aftercare

For immediate help tackling speed addiction, call 844-576-0144.

Sources

[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=evidence-based+addiction+treatment&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB982GB982&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggBEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg8MgYIARBFGDsyCAgCEEUYJxg7MgYIAxBFGDkyDwgEEAAYQxixAxiABBiKBTIHCAUQABiABDIGCAYQRRhBMgYIBxBFGD3SAQgxMzc2ajBqMagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[2] https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse

[3] https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cocaine

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8092307/

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11224198/

[6] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/10/biology-addiction

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576548/

[8] https://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/education/sedation-program/sedation-education/sedation-respiratory-depression/

[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470276/