Session 3 Effects of ATS Use

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Session 3Effects of ATS Use

• Preventing Amphetamine-Type-Stimulant (ATS) Use
  Among Young People
• A UNODC Training Workshop

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Challenges in researching the effects of ATS

• ATS often contain other substances.
• ATS users use other substances concurrently.
• The lifestyle associated with use may contribute
  to some of the effects, not just the drug alone.

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Immediate and short term effects of
meth/amphetamine

• Sought after effects are similar to that of
  cocaine, but cheaper and longer lasting.
• Methamphetamine is more quickly and fully
  absorbed by the brain than amphetamine, therefore
  the effects are stronger.
• Short term negative effects
• State of agitation that can lead to violence
• Inability to sleep, hallucinations
• Weight loss (women might see it as a desirable
  effect)
• Paranoia and aggression.
• Overdose can happen but is rare.

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Effects of longer term meth/amphetamine use (1)

• High potential for addiction and dependence,
  especially methamphetamine.
• Amphetamine psychosis
• Violent tendencies usually linked to psychotic
  episodes Violence, accidental or otherwise, is
  the leading cause of amphetamine related deaths
• Usually ends on stopping use.
• Malnourishment.

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Effects of longer term meth/amphetamine use (2)

• Depression, cognitive and memory problems
• Abstract thought, verbal competency, ability to
  learn and retain new information.
• Sexual dysfunction
• Rough sex gt risk of bleeding and STIs
• Inability to achieve or maintain erection.
• High rates of HIV among injecting users
• Because of needle sharing, increased no. of
  partners, increased no. of unprotected sex.
• Physical damage
• Dental erosion, skin lesions
• Damage to heart, lungs and brain.

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Short term effects of ecstasy use

• Sought after effects reported by users are
  positive changes in feelings, enhanced
  communication, empathy, pleasure in touching.
• However, especially in higher doses, use can
  produce distortion in perception, thinking and
  memory.
• Serotonine syndrome can result in extreme rise in
  body temperature, as serotonin regulates
  temperature.
• Some individual appear to have particular
  vulnerability to toxic effects of ecstasy.

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Effects of longer term ecstasy use

• Hangover characterised by depression, fatigue,
  dehydration and difficulties in concentrating.
• Weight loss, kidney liver damage.
• Impairment in short term memory
• Not clear if it reverses stopping use or not.
• Depression, panic attacks, paranoia.
• Dependence
• A proportion of heavy ecstasy users show evidence
  of dependence according to diagnostic criteria.

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Effects of methyphenidate use

• Higher doses and chronic use result in effects
  similar to those of meth/amphetamine

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The drug, the person and the context

• The effects and the level of risk that a person
  is taking depends on three aspects of the
  situation that will vary with each occasion
• The substance
• What is it? In which dose is it taken? How? Are
  other substances being taken concurrently?
• The person
• The physical and mental condition of the person
  taking the substance, his/her expectations and
  past experiences.
• The context
• Physical and social setting in which the
  substance is taken, including interpersonal
  atmosphere and group expectations.