Class B
Amphetamine
Also called: Billy, Paste, Speed, Sulph, Sulphate, Whizz
A powerful stimulant that keeps people alert, usually sold as an off-white or pinkish powder – that sometimes look like small crystals
Quick info
How the drug works varies from person to person
How you might feel
Alert, energised, wide-awake and/or agitated, panicked, chatty.
Effects on your body
Can make you feel more energised but also stop you feeling hungry. You might find it really hard to sleep.
How long it takes to work
A few minutes on average when snorted.
How long the effects last
3 - 6 hours on average.
Common risks
- A speed ‘comedown’ can last for days.
- Some people say they feel exhausted and sad after taking it.
- There is a risk when using a range of stimulant drugs at the same time.
- This can put your heart under a lot of stress.
Call 999What else to do in an emergency
How does it make you feel?
Taking speed can make you feel:
- alert
- energised
- wide awake
- excited
Some people take it because it gives them the energy to do things for hours without getting tired – like dancing and talking.
Speed stops you feeling hungry too, and amphetamines like speed were once the main ingredient in diet pills.
Speed can also make users feel:
- agitated
- panicked
Some people have become psychotic and delusional when on speed, which means seeing or hearing things that aren't there.
How does it make people behave?
Some people get very:
- chatty
- talkative
while others become:
- agitated
- anxious
- aggressive
There have also been cases of people becoming psychotic and experiencing delusions – which means seeing and hearing things that aren’t there.
Worried about amphetamine — yours or someone else's?
Everything you tell FRANK is confidential. We're here to help, not judge.