Amped on Speed: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Amphetamine

Amphetamines are a class of drugs, comprising everything from Benzedrine to Captagon to Ritalin. Having first been developed in 1887, leading to the production of the Benzedrine Inhaler intended to widen bronchial passages, it quickly became one of the most abused drugs in the world, largely related to its use and abuse in World War II. Amphetamine variants have never truly gone away, and many have seen a resurgence in both illicit use and legitimate use for weight loss, treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and use in the academic setting as a "smart drugs." Through the years, amphetamines have been identified by numerous street names, which include "Crosstops", "Whites", "Black Beauties", "Bennies", "Pep Pills", and probably the most often referenced street name of "Speed." This presentation will look back at the beginnings of amphetamine drugs, it's legal use and abuse, and will discuss many of the indicators of amphetamine impairment and abuse..