Speed is an addictive and highly dangerous stimulant formed from the powder of methamphetamine (or just “meth” for short). During the 1920s pharmacists marketed the base drug for congestion. The military later used it as a performance-enhancing drug during World War 2. Over time, it became a “cure all” drug for anything from weight loss to depression. Today, however, the harmful and addictive properties are widely known, and all forms of meth are illegal and classified as a Schedule II stimulant, meaning it increases and excites brain activity. While coffee can also be called stimulants, speed is incredibly addictive and is drastically detrimental to the body. Still, a lesser form of the substance is found in prescription drugs like Adderall and Desoxyn used to treat Attention Deficit and Hyperactive DIsorder (ADHD). The more potent forms are trafficked into the United States from all around the world and produced in unstable, homemade meth labs associated with gangs and extremely volatile chemical toxins. Drug obsession characterizes the lives of street addicts and often dangerously unsanitary living spaces, neglect and abuse of their children, and homelessness.
Speed is a white powder that goes by different street names, including crack, chalk, and uppers. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally. The pleasurable high experienced from usage usually creates a psychological craving for more and eventually a controlling addiction. The side effects differ some depending on the person and how they take it.
