What Kind of Drug Is It?

Dextroamphetamines are stimulants—substances that increase the activity of a living organism or one of its parts. Stimulants create a temporary "HIGH" that elevates users' moods, but these effects do not last long. A "low," which can sometimes be overwhelming, follows once the drug's effects wear off.

Like other AMPHETAMINES, dextroamphetamines also give people more energy, allowing them to do more and stay awake longer without getting tired. This effect of "speeding up" people's actions explains how the drugs came to be known by the street names "go-pills," "pep pills," "speed," and "uppers."

Overview

Dextroamphetamines are addictive drugs that have a high rate of abuse. The prefix "dextro" in the drug name dextroamphetamine refers to dextrose, a type of sugar. Dextroamphetamines are simply amphetamines that contain sugar molecules. (An entry on amphetamines is also available in this encyclopedia.)

The history of amphetamines...