Stimulants speed up messages from the brain to the nervous system. They can motivate and create feelings of joy and pleasure. They can boost confidence and make people feel more confident and productive. Unfortunately, amphetamines – often called ‘speed’ – are highly addictive and can lead to addiction, overdose, and drug-related death. A substance abuse treatment program can provide comprehensive medical and psychiatric care for those struggling with speed or amphetamine use.
If you or someone you love is caught in the cycle of addiction with speed, the team at La Fuente can help. La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center provides cutting-edge addiction therapy for the LGBTQ community. With inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs, La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center is here to support your recovery. Call us now at 888.903.9898 to learn about substance abuse treatment programs in Hollywood, CA.
Getting to Know Speed and Other Common Stimulant Drugs
Stimulants are popular. Whether someone is legally taking Adderall prescribed for ADHD or illicitly using meth, they are ingesting a stimulant drug. Common stimulants include:
- Adderall
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines
- Flakka
- Focalin
- Khat
- Ritalin
- Vyvanse
- Crystal Meth
- Dexedrine
- Ecstasy
- Amphetamines (speed)
- Concerta
Stimulants like speed release dopamine and speed up the body’s processing. That’s why amphetamines are commonly known as speed. When a person snorts amphetamines, the drugs hit the bloodstream immediately. Within a few minutes, a person’s breathing, temperature, and heart rate increase. If someone takes too much speed, this results in an overdose. The drug lasts about 3-6 hours, depending on a person’s weight, metabolism, and drug history.
Symptoms of Speed Amphetamine
Symptoms of speed are like those of other stimulant drugs. As speed puts the body into hyper-drive, the following symptoms can occur:
- Extreme mood swings
- Manic behavior
- Secretive behavior
- Drug-seeking behavior
- Changes in personal hygiene
- Irrational and strange behaviors
- Sweating
- Weight loss
- Fast-talking
- Anxiety
- Seeming on edge
- Loss of appetite
- Paranoia
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Trouble sleeping
- Nightmares
If someone overdoses on speed, they can become incapacitated, making it hard to seek medical attention. Other symptoms of speed overdose include:
- Dangerously high body temperature
- Jerking limbs
- Increased heart rate
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing
If you see someone with these symptoms, call 911 immediately. If you’ve taken speed and suspect you have overdosed, contact poison control immediately and ask someone to call 911. The best way to avoid an overdose is through a substance abuse treatment program.
Begin Speed Amphetamine Abuse Treatment in Hollywood Today
For many people, speed can be fun. It’s a common recreational drug whether someone is using it at parties or for heightened personal performance. Unfortunately, like other stimulants, it’s highly addictive and can easily lead to overdose. Today, many people are combining stimulants with opioids for a more intense experience. The rise in fentanyl-related deaths makes taking stimulants like speed even riskier. Because speed often comes in a powder, it’s hard to know what might be mixed with it or how potent or dangerous it might be.
At La Fuente Hollywood, we understand the impact speed has on our fast-paced culture. We also know that addiction disproportionately affects the LGBTQ community. That’s why our center focuses on addiction and mental health treatment in our local community. Many of the staff at La Fuente are in recovery themselves, meaning they know firsthand how to help clients recover. We pair cutting-edge addiction recovery research with evidence-based treatment to help the LGBTQ community recover, connect, and thrive. Whether you’re looking for inpatient, outpatient, or sober living homes in the Hollywood area, La Fuente can help.
Call La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center Now to Get Started
Don’t let speed take over your life. Call us now at 888.903.9898 to learn more about our inclusive treatment center and get started now.