Skip Navigation

Here you can say what you want, without having to say who you are. Whatever experiences you've had with drugs, it can help to get something off your chest. And you might end up helping someone else. Please read FRANK's disclaimer.

CAPTCHA
Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. If you are not sure what the words are click the reload button. Visually impaired users can click the audio buttonto hear a set of words.
Your story has been submitted for review. Thank you for sharing.
Please wait while data is saving...

Speed

Skip To Footer Menu
Speed
Close up of speed
Releated terms: Whizz, Sulph, Phet, Paste, Dexies, Billy, Base, Amphetamine.

The Drug

The Effects

The Risks

The Law

The Drug
Overview Appearance Use
Overview

What is ‘speed?’

Speed is the street name for a range of drugs called amphetamines - including amphetamine sulphate, Dexedrine, and dexamphetamine. Use of 4-methylamphetamine, an amphetamine that is closely related to the particularly harmful drug - methamphetamine, has recently been reported. Like cocaine, amphetamines are stimulants that people take to keep them awake and alert.

Different amphetamines differ in how powerful they are and how they are considered under the Misuse of Drugs Act. For example, recent reports of 4-methylamphetamine (being sold as Ket Phet or Phet Ket) have suggested that it may be more toxic than the classical speed, amphetamine sulphate. 4-methylamphetamine, like methamphetamine, is a Class A drug, while amphetamine sulphate is a Class B drug.

 

Amphetamines have been used in wars to help keep soldiers alert and they were once the main ingredient in diet pills, because they stop people feeling hungry. Some amphetamines are used in medicine, for example, Ritalin is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Here are the key effects and risks of taking ‘speed’:

  • Speed makes people feel wide awake, excited and chatty.
  • People take it because it gives them the energy to do things for hours without getting tired, things like dancing, talking, and going out.
  • It can though make people overactive, agitated or even acutely psychotic.
  • The high is generally followed by a long slow comedown, making you feel really irritable and depressed.
  • Speed puts a strain on your heart – some users have died from overdoses.

Methamphetamine or ‘crystal meth’ has its own A-Z page

Next
Appearance

 

What does speed look like?

Speed is an off-white or pinkish powder and can sometimes look like small crystals. Sold in wraps, it usually costs around £8 – £12 a gram.

However, there are other types of speed:

  • The ‘base’ form of speed is usually purer and is a pinkish-grey colour and feels like putty.

 

  • Crystal meth (methylamphetamine or methamphetamine) is a very strong, addictive and dangerous form of speed that comes in crystals and can be smoked.
  • 4-methylamphetamine has been reported as looking like damp paste or putty.
  • Amphetamines that are used as medicines, such as dexamphetamine and Ritalin, are usually small white pills. Doctors use them to treat conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Next
Use

 

How do people take speed?

Speed is either dabbed onto the gums, or is snorted in lines (like cocaine powder). Sometimes it's rolled up in a cigarette paper and swallowed, this is called a ‘speedbomb’. It can also be injected or mixed into drinks.

 

The effects of speed kick in within half an hour of swallowing. If you snort or inject speed it will kick in quicker –  the effects can last for up to six hours.

Injecting ’speed’, and sharing injecting equipment, runs the risk of the injector catching or spreading a virus such as HIV or hepatitis C. There is also the risk that veins may be damaged and that an abscess or a blood clot will develop.

 

 

The Effects

What are the effects of speed?

‘Speed’ makes users feel very up, alert and energised, but can also make them agitated and aggressive.  It can also have other effects:

  • Speed makes people feel wide awake, excited and chatty. 

 

  • Clubbers take it because it gives them the energy to dance for hours without getting tired.
  • Amphetamines were once the main ingredient in diet pills because they stop people feeling hungry.

Speed use can lead to agitation, panics or even a psychotic episode.

The Risks
What are the risks? Impurities Getting hooked
What are the risks?

What are the risks?

Taking ‘speed’ does involve risks. Here’s what it could do to you:

  • Depending on how much you’ve taken, it can be difficult to relax or sleep.
  • The ‘comedown’, which can last a number of days, can make users feel really lethargic and down, and you can develop difficulty concentrating and with learning.
  • Speed puts a strain on your heart, so it's definitely not advisable for people with high blood pressure or a heart condition – users have died from overdoses.

 

  • Mixing speed with anti-depressants or alcohol has been known to kill.
  • Taking a lot of speed, alongside its effects on diet and sleep, can give your immune system a battering – so you could get more colds, flu and sore throats,
  • Speed can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression and paranoia; as well as mental illness, even to acute psychotic episodes.
  • Injecting speed is particularly dangerous. It's much easier to overdose when injecting. Speed is usually very impure, so it’s not just the amphetamine that goes in to your bloodstream.

 

  • Injecting can also cause damage to veins and arteries, and may cause ulcers and even gangrene (that’s when bits of the body start to die).
  • Viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS infections can be spread by users sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.
Next
Impurities

How pure is speed?

Speed is usually a very impure street drug – most of the powder only contains 5-15% amphetamine. Base speed is usually somewhat purer.

Next
Getting hooked

Can you get addicted to ‘speed’?

Speed is the street name for a range of amphetamines, which are all addictive, meaning you can become strongly dependent on them. The more you take, the more you tend to want to take; and the more you build up your tolerance, so that you need higher doses just to get the same buzz or just to feel 'normal'. 

With regular use, you may increasingly take speed to avoid unpleasant withdrawals.

The Law

 

Is speed illegal?

  • Speed is a Class B drug and it’s illegal to have, give away or sell. Speed that has been prepared for injection becomes a Class A drug and can get you tougher sentencing if you're caught with it or selling it.
  • Possession can get you up to five years in jail and an unlimited fine.
  • Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you up to 14 years and an unlimited fine.
  • 4-methylamphetamine is a Class A drug. This means that possession can get you up to seven years in jail and an unlimited fine, while supplying to someone else, can get you life and an unlimited fine.

What if you’re caught?

If the Police catch you with speed, they’ll always take some action. This could include a formal caution,  arrest and prosecution.

  • A conviction for a drug-related offence could have a serious impact. It can stop you visiting certain countries – for example the United States – and limit the types of jobs you can apply for.

 

Did you know?

  • Like drinking and driving, driving while under the influence  of drugs is illegal – with some drugs you can still be unfit to drive the day after using. You can get a heavy fine, be disqualified from driving or even go to prison. 
  • Allowing other people to use drugs in your house or any other premises is illegal. If the police catch someone using drugs in a club they can prosecute the landlord, club owner or person holding the party.
Skip Related Stories
top

Stories

I'll never touch speed again.

Whilst out clubbing one night, one of my friends offered me Speed. I had already been drinking and I didn't know much about the drug, but decided to take some anyway. I quickly started to feel the effects. At first, I felt very happy, talkative and energetic.

1797 people found this helpful

I felt under pressure to take it

I was with my friends one day and it was a rainy day and we were walking around Ashington, with 3 friends. We ended up near the white elephant and my mate met this lad who takes speed, and she got some off him, and they gave me some I had it in my hand, and every one else had took it, and I was standing with it in my hand, I felt under pressure

1508 people found this helpful

I felt cool and part of the crowd

When you are young you’re determined you will never smoke, take drugs or even drink excessively. At the age of twelve I started smoking cigarettes (I am now 16), that was only because most kids in my year was trying it out and I didn’t want to be seen as an outcast or different.

1792 people found this helpful

great at first but I lost everything

I first started taking speed about 10yrs ago when clubbing with friends..the feeling it gave was unbelievable..but the next few days were unbearable it starts as a weekend thing then u try some in the week and before u know it your taking it before u can leave the house..the effects aren't the same the longer u use, i used it just to make me feel "normal"....
...

1168 people found this helpful
See more stories

Hi, have you got a few minutes to give us your views about the FRANK website?

Yes, begin survey
No thanks

FRANK is not online right now. Please come back between 2pm - 6pm (UK) on any day of the week. You can still:

EMAIL FRANK

TEXT 82111

CALL 0800 77 66 00

       

FRANK IS NOT ONLINE NOW

FRANK is not online right now. Please come back between 2pm - 6pm (UK) on any day of the week.