[1] ATS when used illicitly has street names including ice, meth, crystal, crank, bennies, and speed.
Within the group of amphetamine-type stimulants, there are also prescription drugs including mixed amphetamine salts, dextroamphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine.
Due to its physiological and psychological effects, ATS has been used to suppress appetite, improve cognitive performance, as well as treating ADHD, depression, and narcolepsy.
The adverse effects of ATS, especially when chronically used, include obsessive–compulsive tendencies, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, mania and in extreme cases, amphetamine psychosis.
Amphetamine, the parent compound of amphetamine-type stimulants was first synthesized by Romanian chemists Lazar Edeleano in 1887.
Around the same time, amphetamine's precursor ephedrine was also abstracted from a Chinese herbal medicine ephedra by a Japanese Chemist.
[5] Amphetamine was originally sold as a decongestant inhaler in the United States in 1933 and led to widespread ATS abuse in military forces and civilians later on.
[6] Hallucinogenic activity of ATS are often caused by multiple substitutions on the phenyl ring, examples include 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine.
When the methoxy group is substituted in the para position of the ATS molecule, the hallucinogenic potency will become significantly high.
[10] ATS can be administered via oral (swallowing), intranasal (inhaling vapour or snorting), and intravenous routes.
A small amount of amphetamine is also produced from metabolism of methamphetamine, but does not cause any significant clinical effect.
[5] A study conducted by the pharmaceutical company Smith, Kline & French (SKF) in 1947 showed that amphetamine can affect the brain center for appetite and help to reduce weight.
[2] Amphetamine type stimulants can be used in the treatment of narcolepsy, a rare neurological disorder where the brain is unable to regulate the sleep-wake mechanism.
Low-to-moderate doses of ATS improves psychomotor output without significantly affecting memory, verbal task performance and intelligence measures.
[22] The adverse effect of ATS may be caused by many factors, including overdose of prescribed drugs, or use of illicit substance that are not safe in any pharmacological relevant dose.
[21] The toxic dose of ATS varies between person due to development of drug tolerance and genetic polymorphism of the CYP450 2D6 gene.
[27] Studies show that antidepressants like fluoxetine, imipramine and desipramine have very limited effects for ATS abuse since they may reduce craving or increase period of adherence to short-to-medium-term treatments.
[28] A variety of psychosocial interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing substance abuse and risk behaviours associated with ATS.