Other Names: Amphetamine, pills, whizz, billy, amph, sulphate, phet, sulph, base, ice, meth, crystal, crystal meth, crank, dexies, methamphetamine, dexamphetamine, Dexedrine

I like E's and quite fancy trying speed - what do you think?

• Chances are you've probably had some anyway as Ecstasy's often cut with speed.
• Effects are colder and faster than E but similar in some ways. Speed gives you a buzz, filling you with energy and making you feel alert and confident.
• It suppresses your appetite and can keep you awake and dancing around for hours, feeling talkative and sociable, and many find it makes them feel hornier and able to drink alcohol for longer without getting wasted.

There's a much bigger downside to speed than E though...

• You'll feel like talking, but you'll probably just spout off the most inane rubbish to anyone who's unfortunate to be nearby.
• Your mouth may get extremely dry, no matter how much you drink, and you may grind your teeth - with regular use, this can lead to serious dental problems.
• You may also get tense, nervous and paranoid, and sometimes aggressive or even physically violent, especially as the buzz begins to fade and the comedown begins.
• Coming down from speed is nasty, and is where it gets its reputation as a 'dirty' drug. The energy and confidence disappear, leaving you tired and depressed but still unable to relax.
• Anxiety attacks, mood swings and other such unpleasantness often follows. Sometimes for days.

It's only Class B so it must be quite safe, right?

Wrong! Speed isn't known on the scene as a 'dirty' drug or 'poor man's coke' for nothing. It's often cut with so much nasty shit that a pill sold as speed may only contain 3% actual amphetamine. The results of taking it can be horrible.

Physically, speed increases your body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Even moderate doses can cause serious problems for people with existing heart or blood pressure conditions, and overdosing - something that's easy to do, as it's very tempting to keep taking more to try and avoid the comedown - can be fatal even if you're otherwise fit and healthy.

As it lowers your inhibitions and increases your sexual desire, speed can put you at risk from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases through unprotected sex. Speed is also easy to become dependant on, and your body will start developing a tolerance, requiring larger and larger doses to get the same buzz.

As well as exhaustion, trouble concentrating, mood swings, weight loss and malnutrition, repeated use can trigger mental problems including psychoses, paranoia and obsessional behaviour, or make existing conditions such as depression much worse.

Taking too much for too long can result in amphetamine psychosis, a condition similar to schizophrenia, and can also lead to heart problems and weaken the immune system. The fact that speed tends to vary so much in purity only goes to make all these problems more dangerous.

I love taking it but the comedowns suck - how can I avoid them?

They do, indeed, suck. But they're the price you have to pay, unfortunately.

• Resign yourself to the fact that you will have a comedown, and try to prepare for it.
• During it, drink fruit juices and take a multivitamin, and do your best to relax and breathe slowly and regularly.
• If you can manage it, try to eat some fruit or cereal before you finally get some sleep.
• Don't take any more speed for at least a week afterwards. And if you think you have or are developing a speed habit, get some help immediately.

Any tips on taking speed more safely?

• Even if you're fit and healthy, don't take lots at once - this is the easiest way to overdose, especially as speed varies so much in strength.
• Never inject, and avoid smoking it. Snorting or rubbing on the gums allows you take smaller amounts, but can damage the nose or mouth.
• The safest way to take speed is to wrap a small amount in a rizla and swallow it, and make sure to wait at least an hour before taking any more, so you can judge how strong it is.
• By the way, that yellow paste base stuff going around these parts lately is not as pure as rumoured - but then, high-purity speed is as dangerous as the stuff crap speed is cut with.
• Once you have a good buzz going, stop taking it, no matter how tempting it may be to have 'just a little more'.
• If you're dancing, take regular breaks to cool down, and sip water frequently.
• Don't mix speed with other stimulants such as coke, poppers or E, as this greatly increases the risk of heart or blood pressure problems, and try to avoid alcohol, as the stimulant effect of the speed can lead to drinking far more than usual.
• Make sure you have condoms with you, and make sure you use them if you pull.
• Leave speed out altogether if you have heart, blood pressure or mental health problems.