What It Is: Amphetamines are very addictive stimulants. They speed up functions in the brain and body. They come in pills or tablets. Prescription diet pills also fall into this category of drugs. Sometimes Called: speed, uppers, dexies, bennies, hearts, truck drivers How It's Used: Amphetamines are swallowed, smoked, snorted, or injected. What It Does: No matter how a person takes amphetamines, these drugs hit with a fast high, making the user feel powerful, alert, and energized. These "uppers" pump up heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, and can also cause sweating, shaking, headaches, sleeplessness, and blurred vision. Long or lasting use may cause hallucinations and intense paranoia. Even after users stop taking amphetamines, they may still have problems such as aggression, anxiety, and strong cravings for the drugs. Back to Articles Related Articles What You Need to Know About Drugs Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. Some drugs help you feel better, but drugs also can harm you. Learn more in this article for kids. Read More Prescription Drug Abuse There are many downsides to experimenting with prescription drugs. Find out more in this article for teens. Read More Dealing With Addiction Find out what you can do if you think you or a friend has a drug or alcohol addiction - from recognizing the warning signs to suggestions to help you stay clean. Read More Drugs: What to Know It's not hard to find drugs, and sometimes it may seem like everyone's doing them or wanting you to do them. But there are downsides (and dangers) to taking drugs. Read More Drugs: What Parents Need to Know Knowing what drugs are out there, what they can do, and how they can affect someone is the first step in raising drug-free kids. Read More Heroin: What Parents Need to Know Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal narcotic that can cause death when taken in excess. Read More Talking to Your Child About Drugs Just as you inoculate your kids against illnesses like measles, you can help "immunize" them against drug use by giving them the facts now. Read More Inhalants: What Parents Need to Know Inhalants like glue are sniffed or huffed to give the user a high. Just doing it one time can be fatal. Read More Ketamine: What Parents Need to Know Ketamine hydrochloride is a quick-acting anesthetic that can cause intoxication, hallucinations, and even death when taken in dangerously high doses. Read More LSD: What Parents Need to Know LSD is a dangerous hallucinogenic drug that affects mood, judgment, and behavior. Read More Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. Read More Ecstasy: What Parents Need to Know Ecstasy is a dangerous illegal drug that can cause hallucinations and even death. Read More GHB: What Parents Need to Know GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a popular club and date rape drug that can be deadly. Read More Methamphetamines: What Parents Need to Know Methamphetamines are dangerous stimulants that speed up a person's heart rate and bodily functions. When used in large doses, meth can kill. Read More Rohypnol: What Parents Need to Know Rohypnol is an antianxiety medication. Because it can cause extreme drowsiness (or "blackouts"), the drug is often used in date rapes. Read More Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse Chugging cough medicine for an instant high is a dangerous, potentially deadly practice. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.