In the 1960s, methamphetamine users were considered the “speed-freaks” of the psychedelic drug scene. These individuals were on the fringes of the users and were unpredictable and not really “loving.”
Methamphetamines moved from a counterculture drug to the heartland of America to a public safety concern. This drug was not an inner-city drug as much as it was one produced outside in the country. Meth users might be buying the drug or they might be cooking the drug in their own homemade lab. These labs produce toxic chemicals that those cooking breath in (including children present at the scene), they are highly explosive causing concern for neighbors, police, and the users themselves.
Stimulant medications are used to treat Attention Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are many drugs that treat ADHD, the premier was Ritalin. Others are Adderall, Concerta, Metadat, Attenade, Focalin, and Daytrana. It was perplexing to researchers why a drug that is a stimulant would help children be able to slow down and focus on tasks. The idea of reducing hyperactivity with stimulants seem counterintuitive.
It is believed it works because it increases dopamine that may amplify the effects of environmental stimulation but also reduces the background “noises” that are distracting.
These drugs have the potential for abuse in children as well as adults who might use them as performance enhancing drugs. Some crush them and snort them for a stimulant high.
