Speed

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What is speed?
Speed is a type of amphetamine. It is a central nervous system stimulant that affects the way your brain works and how your body functions.
There are different types of amphetamines. Doctors prescribe some amphetamines to treat medical conditions such as narcolepsy (an uncontrollable urge to sleep) or ADHD. Others are produced and sold illegally. The main forms of illicit methamphetamine are:

Ice is the most potent (strongest) form.
Speed powder can range in colour from white to brown. It may contain traces of grey or pink. It has a strong smell and bitter taste. It can also come as pills. Speed can be:

What are the effects of taking speed?
The effects of speed are felt immediately if the drug is injected or smoked. If snorted or swallowed, the effects can take half an hour to appear. They last up to 6 hours, depending on the dose.
Speed can make people feel ‘pumped’ and happy. They may:

See ‘What are the effects of taking drugs?’ on the Department of Health website for more information.
What can go wrong with speed?
Coming down from speed can take days. You might experience:

It’s possible to overdose on speed if you have a large amount or a strong dose. A person may have overdosed if they:

These can lead to death. If you think someone has overdosed on speed, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulance officers don’t have to call the police.
High doses and frequent use of speed can cause amphetamine-induced or stimulant psychosis. It’s very similar to schizophrenia, with symptoms of:

There are lots of mental health issues linked to using speed. Most of them are associated with coming down after taking speed, or long-term use. They include:

Taking other drugs to help with the side effects of speed can lead to dependence on several drugs at once.
Can I become dependent on speed?
Over time it is possible to become tolerant to speed. This is when a user needs more of the drug to achieve the same effects.
People can also become addicted to speed. This is when they spend a lot of time thinking about the drug and trying to get it. Some users may even feel like they need the drug just to get through the day. This can impact their:

People can become dependent on speed. They may find it difficult to stop using speed or control how much they use. This is often due to withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms can include:

Most withdrawal symptoms settle down after a week then gradually disappear.
How can I stop using speed?
Getting off speed can be difficult. If you are struggling with withdrawal, speak to your doctor. They can help you manage withdrawal symptoms, and advise you on treatment options, such as:

Resources and support
See ‘What are the effects of taking drugs?’ on the Department of Health website for more information.
Find out more about how drugs and alcohol can impact your health, including where to find help and support.
You or someone you know may be finding it hard to manage issues related to drug use. You can try healthdirect’s Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek professional help.
The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare step for you. This could be:

the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website or you can call their Drug Info and Advice Line on 1300 85 85 84
the Drug Help website or call the Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 250 015
the Turning Point website — Australia’s leading national addiction treatment, training and research centre — or call them on 1800 250 015
The Touchbase website for Australians identifying as LGBTIQ+
Narcotics Anonymous Australia on 1300 652 820
Lifeline on 13 11 14

Support for injecting behaviour
If you inject speed, you can reduce your risk of blood-borne disease by attending a Needle and Syringe Program (NSP).
Needle and Syringe Programs provide clean needles or syringes to people who inject drugs. It’s sometimes referred to as ‘needle exchange’.
The types of Needle and Syringe Programs vary, from pharmacies to vending machines.