Amphetamines - Overview

Overview

Although they were discovered late in the nineteenth century, amphetamines did not receive much attention in the medical community until 1927, when a University of California researcher named Gordon Alles began studying their effects. Alles found that the drugs gave people a lot of energy, allowing them to do more and stay awake longer without getting tired. This effect of "speeding up" people's actions explains how amphetamines eventually came to be known by the street names "speed" and "uppers."

There are several different types of amphetamines. (For more information, see individual entries on Adderall, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine in this encyclopedia.) Generally, all amphetamines act the same way: as stimulants.

Official Drug Name: Amphetamine (am-FETT-uh-meen); Benzedrine (BENZ-uh-dreen)

Also Known As: Amp, bennies, pep pills, speed, and uppers

Drug Classifications: Schedule II, stimulant

Early Amphetamines Treat Breathing Problems

The first amphetamine was made in a laboratory by a German chemist in the late 1880s. The drug was not used for medical purposes, however, until more than forty years later. By that time, scientists were looking to create a drug that would mimic the effects of ephedra, a natural Chinese remedy for asthmaPronounced AZ-muh; a lung disorder that interferes with normal breathing.. When boiled in water, stems from the ephedra bush produce a tea that helps dilate, or open up, the small sacs of the lungs. The active ingredient in this tea apparently eases breathing in asthmatics who drink it. (An entry on ephedra is also available in this encyclopedia.)

Research on asthma medications led to the manufacture of Benzedrine, the earliest and most basic form of amphetamine. In 1931, the pharmaceutical company Smith, Kline, and French introduced the Benzedrine inhaler to relieve the discomfort of nasal congestion due to colds, allergies, and asthma. As Murray pointed out, these first Benzedrine users reported trouble sleeping when they were on the drug. This sparked yet another branch of research on the effects of amphetamines. By 1935, drug companies were marketing amphetamines for the treatment of a daytime sleeping disorder known as narcolepsyA sleep disorder characterized by daytime tiredness and sudden attacks of sleep.. Researchers did not yet realize that amphetamine use could be dangerous.

The ADHD Connection

As far back as 1937, doctors were looking for ways to help children who had problems concentrating. At the time, the condition that is now referred to as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderA disorder characterized by impulsive behavior, difficulty concentrating, and hyperactivity that interferes with social and academic functioning. (ADHD) was called "minimal brain dysfunction." Little was known about the disorder, and it was believed to affect only children. Since then, the misleading name "minimal brain dysfunction" has been dropped, and medical researchers have learned more about ADHD and its effects.

ADHD is a disorder that begins during childhood, although in many cases it goes undiagnosed until adulthood. It is very difficult for people with ADHD to focus their attention and control their behavior. Children with ADHD are easily distracted and have difficulty concentrating, especially on schoolwork. They may also talk excessively, interrupt conversations, and have trouble waiting their turn. In many cases, people diagnosed with ADHD display impulsive behavior(sometimes called impulsivity) Acting quickly, often without thinking about the consequences of one's actions., which frequently persists into adulthood.

According to the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy's 1972 entry on amphetamines, early use of amphetamines in young patients with ADHD produced surprising results. "Instead of making them even more jittery, as might be expected, the amphetamines calm many of these children and noticeably improve their concentration and performance," commented the authors of the article. The use of amphetamines for ADHD in children and adults continues into the twenty-first century.