In principle, the more frequently speed is consumed and the higher the doses, the greater the undesirable side effects.

The possible negative effects are mainly related to the stimulating effect of the substance. The increase in body temperature is often underestimated, especially if you also do a lot of exercise (e.g. dancing). Other possible unpleasant physical effects can include loss of fluids, tension in the jaw muscles, dry mouth, headaches, tremors and urinary retention (it is difficult to urinate despite a full bladder). High doses can cause hallucinations and circulatory failure.

Possible negative psychological effects can include feelings of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggression and depressive moods. Physical and mental performance can be overestimated on speed, which can lead to an increased willingness to take risks. After speed has been broken down in the body, the brain needs a few days to weeks to restore the neurotransmitter balance. During this time, the effects of speed can be reversed: Those who were previously full of energy now feel tired and listless, those who were previously strong and confident are now irritable, dissatisfied and unfocussed.

Speed mainly causes an increased release of the neurotransmitters dopamine (acts on the reward centre in the brain) and noradrenaline in the brain. This is followed by an increased release of adrenaline in the rest of the body. Body functions such as breathing, blood pressure and pulse are increasingly activated and the body temperature rises.

Speed has a high psychological dependency potential.

Chronic use can lead to high blood pressure, stomach problems, damage to the stomach and nasal mucosa and skin blemishes. Weight loss, deficiency symptoms (which affect teeth and bones), and changes in the menstrual cycle can also be long-term consequences, as chronic consumption can cause you to not eat and sleep enough, depriving your body of nutrients and rest.

Difficulty sleeping, persistent tiredness or listlessness, depression, but also constant restlessness can also be consequences of chronic speed consumption.

The consumption of speed can lead to a substance-associated psychosis (formerly known as amphetamine psychosis). It is assumed that high doses, sleep deprivation, but also the psychological stability and life circumstances of the user play a role. Psychosis is a state of loss of reality. It manifests itself through paranoid and nonsensical thoughts, delusions, but also through tactile (affecting the skin, e.g. tingling or pricking under the skin), visual and auditory hallucinations.

• psychological problems, restlessness or anxiety.
• High blood pressure
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Cardiovascular problems
• Liver or kidney damage
• Epilepsy
• Hyperthyroidism
• Increased intraocular pressure

The simultaneous or consecutive consumption of different substances puts much more strain on the body and mind than the consumption of one substance. In addition, the effects are not really predictable and vary from time to time. In the case of mixed consumption, 1+1 is not 2.

• Speed & Alcohol
  As with cocaine, those who take speed hardly feel the effects of alcohol, which tempts them to drink even more and overestimate their own performance. Nobody is fit to drive on the road in this condition.
• Speed & Cannabis
  Smoking cannabis to get "down" from speed can work - but in many cases the opposite effect occurs: it is as if the speed effect kicks in all over again, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations and feelings of intense insecurity and anxiety.
• Speed & Ecstasy
  Speed and ecstasy put a strain on body and mind. The possible neurotoxic effects of ecstasy can be intensified by the mixed consumption of ecstasy and speed. The loss of fluids is particularly high with a combination of these substances and the necessary recovery phase is prolonged.

The mixture with other stimulants (e.g. cocaine, high amounts of caffeine or energy drinks) places a great strain on the cardiovascular system. This can lead to life-threatening conditions.

If you use speed despite the health and criminal risks, you should observe the following rules:

• Speed is often mixed with other substances such as caffeine. Therefore, have your substances analysed if you have the opportunity to do so. If you don't have this option, try a little at first to see whether the desired effects or other effects occur.
• Don't take too much at once and avoid redosing.
• If you consume nasally, do not share your tube with others, as this can be a transmission route for diseases (herpes, hepatitis C, possibly HIV). Do not use banknotes either (risk of infection as they are very dirty).
• The least harmful form of speed consumption is oral consumption.
• Drink regularly (non-alcoholic drinks), but not more than 1/2 litre per hour.
• Take rest breaks and make sure you cool down (fresh air, remove headgear...)
• Eat light meals (fruit) and take vitamins.
• Think about how long you want to "party" and end your consumption in good time.
• Don't keep using speed to delay coming down: it can make the hangover even more unpleasant.
• Take longer breaks before the next consumption

Amphetamine has a stimulating effect and belongs to the phenylethylamine group of substances. It is usually found as a powder and is usually taken nasally (through the nose) or orally (swallowed). The amphetamine content in speed can vary greatly, which makes dosing difficult. Speed is also often a mixture of amphetamine and other substances, such as caffeine. There are indications that this mixture intensifies the toxic effects of speed.

Amphetamine was first synthesised in 1887. Between 1910 and 1930, the chemical similarities between amphetamine and the hormone adrenaline and the comparable physical and psychological effects gradually became known. In medicine, amphetamine was subsequently regarded as a "miracle drug". It was used to treat neuroses, depression, alcoholism, epilepsy and obesity, was used by housewives and businessmen as a mood enhancer and was given to soldiers during the Second World War to combat fatigue and improve performance. When the side effects and addictive potential of amphetamine became known in the 1960s, this did not stop the non-medical use of the substance.

Amphetamine became widespread as a doping agent in competitive sport and since the heyday of rock'n'roll in the 1950s - where amphetamine was usually consumed in combination with alcohol - speed has played a special role in all subsequent youth cultures, from the beatniks, the mods, the late hippie era to the Northern Soul scene and the punks.

Amphetamine is covered by the Narcotic Drugs Act. The acquisition, possession, import and export, transfer to and procurement for others (transfer and sale) are punishable by law. Consumers who violate the SMG must expect a mandatory visit to a public health officer (in Vienna: the outpatient centre of the Addiction and Drug Coordination). There, health-related measures may be ordered and a drug test may be expected. If you adhere to these requirements, there will be no court proceedings.