Source: Terminology and Information on Drugs (Third edition).Known for being fairly versatile, amphetamines can be used to treat ailments that usually involve high anxiety and stress. In addition to producing stimulant effects similar to those of amphetamine and methamphetamine, “ecstasy” group substances, to varying degrees, have more pronounced effects on inhibition of serotonin reuptake and can also exhibit binding affinity for serotonin receptors, which is likely to be responsible for its empathogenic/ entactogenic effects and potentially related to hallucinogenic effects at higher doses. The aforementioned “ecstasy” group substances are produced in clandestine laboratories, have no approved medical use, and are under Schedule I of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. However, the more pronounced effect on the serotonin neurotransmitter system leads to some differences in their overall pharmacological effects and is likely to be responsible for the empathogenic/ entactogenic effects of “ecstasy” group substances.
Similarly to amphetamine and methamphetamine, these substances have stimulant properties and affect, to varying degrees, the levels of the three neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. This group comprises synthetic substances such as MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) and MDEA (3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine). The combination of these processes produces the stimulant effects, such as increased energy, heart rate and blood pressure They also inhibit the metabolism of dopamine and norepinephrine. Mechanism of action and resulting effectsĪmphetamine and methamphetamine affect neurotransmitters through a number of mechanisms, namely by inducing the release and preventing the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and, to a lesser extent, serotonin. In general, only methamphetamine is commonly found in the crystal form. For instance, insufflation causes quick absorption into the bloodstream through the mucosa and so enables a more rapid onset of effects than oral consumption. The different methods by which these forms can be administered impacts the onset and duration of action. This is primarily related to the ease of synthesis and the availability of a variety of precursors and methods that can be used for their manufacture. Amphetamine and methamphetamine found in illicit markets are predominantly produced in clandestine laboratories. Both substances are under Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. There are also a number of synthetic stimulants that bear little structural similarity to ATS but have comparable mechanisms of action.Īmphetamine and methamphetamine produce predominantly stimulant effects as a result of their influence on the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, and, to a lesser extent, on serotonin. The differing degrees to which a substance affects these neurotransmitters contributes to the psychostimulant properties of individual ATS. The action of these neurotransmitters induces a range of excitatory responses in the central nervous system. Use of these substances has a stimulatory effect on the central nervous system and influences the levels and action of the important neurotransmitters: dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. The term “amphetamine-type stimulants” (ATS) was coined during the WHO Meeting on Amphetamines, MDMA and other Psychostimulants in Geneva, 1996.Īmphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) refer to a group of drugs, mostly synthetic in origin, whose principal members include amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy).
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