Amphetamines

Amphetamines, also known as “uppers,” “bennies” and “pep pills,” are artificial stimulants. They are closely related to extroamphetamines (“dexies”), methamphetamines (“speed,” “meth,” “crank”), and smokable methamphetamine (“crystal meth,” “ice”). They all have similar effects.

Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA) is a hallucinogen related to amphetamine. It also has stimulant properties. It is a chemical made in drug labs. Ecstasy is also called “E,” “XTC,” “Adam,” “Euphoria,” “X,” and “MDM.”

Effects on general health

Amphetamines cause stimulation of the central nervous system, which may increase alertness, sleeplessness, exhilaration and feelings of euphoria. People using amphetamines may experience tremors, hyperactivity and decreased appetite, which could lead to malnutrition.

Those who use amphetamines are at increased risk for developing high blood pressure, which is considered a risk factor for developing heart disease, vascular disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Amphetamine use may also be related to some types of internal bleeding, bleeding of the brain surface, memory loss and psychosis (loss of contact with reality).

Effects on women's health

There is some evidence that women have stronger reactions to the psychological effects of amphetamines than men do. For example, women may have more hallucinogenic experiences and increased anxiety when using these drugs.

Effects during pregnancy

There is no known safe level of amphetamine consumption for pregnant women.

It is not clear whether a child’s health problems are caused directly by a mother’s use of amphetamines during pregnancy or in combination with other factors including

• poor nutritional habits
• smoking
• alcohol consumption
• use of more than one drug
• sleep problems
• a mother's general health prior to pregnancy
• genetics
• how much alcohol, tobacco or other drugs are consumed during pregnancy
• at what stage in the pregnancy the substance is consumed
• the length of time over which the substance is consumed

The effects of drugs such as amphetamines have been difficult to study because these other factors also affect pregnancy. However, it is safest to avoid alcohol, tobacco and other drugs during pregnancy.

Effects on the fetus

If a mother uses amphetamines by injection and contracts HIV, or hepatitis B or C, she can pass these on to her unborn child.

Amphetamine use during pregnancy may threaten the health of the fetus. There is evidence that infants exposed to methamphetamines at any point during the pregnancy may not grow to full size while in the uterus. An unborn child exposed to amphetamines is at risk for having a small head, decreased body length and low birth weight.

Having a small baby does not mean labour and delivery will be easier. On the contrary, a smaller baby is not strong enough to help in its delivery, making the labour more difficult. Low-birth-weight infants are also more likely to have health problems as they grow.

Babies exposed to amphetamines before birth may be at a higher risk for birth defects involving the heart, blood vessels, bones and muscles. Amphetamine also suppresses appetite. If a mother uses amphetamines regularly and does not adequately meet her own and her child’s nutritional needs, complications may arise for the unborn baby, including malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.

Effects on birth

Women who use amphetamines increase their risk of developing high blood pressure, increased heart rate and proteinuria (excess protein in the urine, an indication of kidney damage) during pregnancy. There is also a higher incidence of premature delivery among mothers who use amphetamines.

Complications that could occur during childbirth as a result of amphetamine use while pregnant include

• bleeding of the placenta
• the premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, a potentially very serious situation for both mother and baby
• premature labour and delivery
• miscarriage or stillbirth

Effects on breastfeeding

The Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics do not recommend breastfeeding while using amphetamines. Nursing mothers who consume amphetamines have concentrations of these drugs in their breast milk. These amphetamines are transferred to a nursing child, and may cause irritability, poor sleep patterns and other problems in exposed infants.

Effects on child development

Children exposed to methamphetamine before birth tend to have aggressive behaviour, delays in mathematics and language skill development, and difficulty with physical fitness activities. These developmental effects are lifelong.

Not everything is known about the effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs on child development. It is safest to avoid using them during pregnancy.