A discreet presence

But a long history

A discreet presence

Amphetamines, commonly called "amphet" or "speed" in France, are part of the drug synthesis and this group is located in terms of traffic and consumption behind one of their most known derivatives, ecstasy. In the broader group of psycho-stimulants, amphetamines arrive behind cocaine in terms of consumption and traffic.

Thus France ranks among the countries in the South and West of Europe where widely predominates the consumption of cocaine amongst countries of Eastern Europe North and Central which tend to belong to one "group to" "amphetamines" (annual report Observatory 2008 European drugs) (and drug addiction, EMCDDA). France is part of the countries where the prevalence of consumption of amphetamine in the general population is the lowest (0,1 % among the 15-64 years against a average European 0.6 % and 0.2 % among) 15-34 years for an average European 1.3 %, according to the EMCDDA). Investigations show that the popularity of this drug remains stable.

In France, these are the licit psychoactive (alcohol, tobacco) (psychotropic medicines) that are more disseminated and more consumed According to the French Monitoring Centre for drugs and (OFDT) Toxicomanie with 42.5 makers at least once in their lives for alcohol, 34,8 million for tobacco and 15.1 million for psychotropic and 6.4 million daily ridership for alcohol in particular (2005 figures). Among the illicit substances, cannabis comes top with 12.4 million of makers, a regular users million and a half million users daily. It is ten times more broadcast as cocaine or ecstasy and thirty times more than heroin.

The number of deaths per year caused by tobacco is estimated at 60,000 between 40 and 50,000 for alcohol and a hundred approximately for the consumption of drugs, primarily of opiate as heroin.

As to amphetamines, over-the-counter in 1955 and frequently used in the middle of the 20th century for their properties stimulating and as diet they have gradually been banned since 1967. Derivatives exist always but can no longer be prescribed for guidance very restricted. As illegal stimulating products, they are today especially in festive space techno, especially in alternative environments (free parties, teknivals) sometimes in clubs and discos but a lesser scale. In urban areas, it is a rare product and little visible but it available to users both attending festive spaces and urban.

Workplace festive techno, according to a survey conducted in 2004 and 2005, 51 % of people in took at least once in their lives (77 % workplace techno) (AC) and 13 % in had consumed the previous month (29 % in the workplace techno) (AC).

According to Barometer health lettering age 18-44 years, the levels of experimentation have done more than doubling between 1995 and 2005, ranging from 1.8 % to 3.5 % at the men and 0.7 % and 1.6 % for women but this information includes in the amphetamines ecstasy, appeared in France in the middle of the 1990s.

Excluding ecstasy, according to the last French official report, the 8th the OFDT trend report (2008), the frequency of experimentation that is to say at least a use past life for amphetamines in the population General remains low (1.5 % of those aged 18 to 64 years in 2005). It is higher among the 26-44 years (1.8 %) than among 18-25 years (0.1 %). Its consumption during the year shall not exceed 0.3 % among the 18-25 years, the class age where it is most common.

A significant evolution however: 24 % between 2005 and 2008 increase of experimentation for amphetamines young people aged 17 years. According to an official inquiry of June 2009 (Escapad) conducted day call to prepare for the defence, 2.7 % of 17-year-olds have experienced some amphetamines (2.2 % in 2005) including 3.5 % among boys and 1.9 % among girls.

That consumes? Most often, young people from privileged backgrounds, or those, who have experienced a chaotic school course, or out of school youth.

"Between 2000 and 2008, the levels of products experimentation "illicit psychoactives out of cannabis has increased", underlines this survey Escapad which considers the increase in the levels of dissemination of these products is "concern (+), although these behaviours remain marginal".

"There seems to be a renewed for stimulants in some interest" the teenager, population fringe even if ecstasy appears somewhat "passed mode", according to the survey. Cocaine and amphetamines are "in rises continuous and parallel since 2000". Average ages experimental first increased between 2000 and 2003 then are stabilised around 16 years of age which shows that "the dissemination of these" substances, while rising, is not more early since 2003 ".

According to most available surveys, very few people are taken into support because their only consumption of amphetamine. The share of amphetamines among products leading to support in the CSST (Centres specialized care for addicts) stands at 0.6 % of all the goings individuals consult these centres (1 % for the) Primo-consultants).

Seizures of amphetamines regularly increased during the Decade 1990-2000, parallel to those of ecstasy. 16 Kg in 1990, they spent the bar 100 kg in 1993 and the 200 kg in 1999.

According to the latest report from the police Directorate on the Narcotics in France (figures 2007), 307, 38 kg of amphetamines have been seized, a record but a ten times less than cannabis quantity entered that same year and very less than heroin or cocaine (respectively) (one tonne and 6.5 tonnes). These seizures of amphetamines in powder, pulp and liquid state, are 295, 2 % compared to 2006 but increasing neighbours from 2003 (275 kg).

Seizures also focused on essential for chemical precursor’s amphetamines or the methamphetamine production. Five cargo of medicinal products containing the equivalent of more than 5 ("black") ephedrine tonnes ("tea") or pure pseudoephedrine - products of lawful use restricted entering into the manufacture of medicinal products - which would have allowed for produce more 27 million tonnes of methamphetamine were thus seized in 2007 by the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport customs. The produced from Iran, Syria and India, had to be routed worms clandestine laboratories in Mexico through the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It was the first time as an important amount of pseudoephedrine was entered in France. The methamphetamine is a powerful synthetic derived the amphetamine, also named Yaba, Ice or Crystal. Particularly dangerous, it is the second most consumed synthesis narcotic in the world after ecstasy but its use in France remains confidential despite persistent rumours and a certain influence on the official reports.

On a total of more than 112.923 interpellations of narcotics in 2007, users the number of stops for simple use of amphetamines high at 294 (+ 53,93 % over 2006 but almost ' as much as in 2004) against 751 for ecstasy and close to 100,000 for cannabis, heroin, cocaine 4.043 6.438.To traffic and use resale on a total of 21.397, the number of interpellations represented 109 for amphetamines (+ 39,74 %) against 388 for ecstasy, some 13,000 for cannabis, 2.952 for heroin and 3.116 for cocaine.

Almost 57.5 % users detained had between 21 and 30 years and 21, 43 % between 18 and 20 years. The average age of the user of amphetamine is 24, 65 years with a mostly male use (87, 76 %). Socio-professional categories supporting detained individuals show that more than one third has no declared profession; another third of workers, the rest is spreading between students-school students, employees, artisans-traders, frames etc. Three people were military and two artists. The Northern Department comes head for (23, 81 %) stops.

In the case of traffic and use-resale, the average age of the trafficker is 25, 57 years. On 109 arrests, 96 involved men and 13 women. Nearly half have no declared profession (62) and the French are majority (90).

On the 307,38 kg of amphetamine seized in 2007, 178,32 kg came from the Belgium, 55,18 kg of the Netherlands, Germany, 3,42 kg of Spain, 27 kg 2.66 kg of France, 1.2 kg of Poland and 39, 67 of undetermined origin. The product was intended for Spain (189,7 kg), the United Kingdom (65,3 kg), to Belgium (1.32 kg), Tunisia (0,23 kg) while 33,86 kg were a destination indefinite.

The challenged traffickers are smuggling transiting France especially with some large quantities of narcotic drugs: four cases of international traffic. Involving a pole, a Moroccan, a Colombian and two Spaniards, represented alone three-quarters of the total seized in 2007.

"The amphetamine use remains marginal and does represent only" "0.25 % of total users interpellations", pointed out in the report of the police Directorate notifying however need monitor "If a postponement of ecstasy to the amphetamine consumption will be" "draws not" because users of amphetamines interpellations increase as those of ecstasy users continue to decline since 2005.

"The" amphetamines are relatively returned to fashion when ecstasy gradient at quality end years 1990 ", Etienne Zurbach, observe regional information centre officer on drugs and dependencies of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur. "There are recipes online for" "making of amphetamines".

For most users however "amphetamines are considered" as a minor add-on drugs and are often combined with other "as ecstasy or the kétamine", adds Mr. Zurbach "is a way" the use of other sleep products, considered more "interesting for their hallucinogenic or empathic effects".

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But a long history

All amphetamines ancestor is alkaloid the ma-huang (Ephedra) (Sinica), a plant to red arrays used for thousands of years in China. The first synthesis of an amphetamine is performed in 1887 at the University of Berlin by a Romanian chemist, Lazar Edeleano, but we expect 1928 for the American chemist Gordon Alles explores its effects on the system central nervous. Marketed in the United States under the name of Benzedrine first to combat the colds or treat asthma but in 1932 very quickly users appreciate rather its recreational virtues.

Amphetamines become a medicinal product for fashion. A report of the Corporation Nations considers that they improve 30 % ability to work a subject somnolent or tired. Their job is spreading in the years 1930-1940 and they are heavily used during the Second World War by the Germans and the Japanese as by the allies.

After the Second World War, they are prescribed as anorexic and stimulants. They are over-the-counter in France in June 1955, and then sold on prescription. Marketed under various names, abuse busy in the 1950s-60 they are widespread, used as Appetite suppressant (Dinintel) to combat fatigue lag or as support by students in a period of frustration (maxiton) to treat nasal congestion, nausea or depressions. Appreciated of those who want to ensure long hours of work, of the US President John F. Kennedy to French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre through artists as Andy Warhol, they are also very en vogue among athletes. When the tour de France 1967 British world champion Tom Simpson dies exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux. In his pocket found several tubes of amphetamines (Tonedron).

In 1972, more than 100 of pharmaceuticals based of amphetamines were thus available in the United States and were prescribed in 12 % of orders. Side effects (dependency) (serious depressions, cardiovascular diseases) and the experience of Japan which has known the first outbreak of dependence on amphetamines after the second World War eventually lead to their withdrawal from the market in France, where a stopped 2 October 1967 registered the strongest molecules on the list drug repressed by an act dating from 1916 (replaced since by the) (law of 1970), even though they are not at the time inscribed on the list international drug.

Anti Anorexia medications containing of amphetamines are still for sale in the middle of the 1990s, they are then removed from the market because there detected a link with pulmonary arterial hypertension. But as soon as only one product is prohibited or raises warnings, others appear. The amfepramone has so long been used as diet related to some diuretics and thyroidal extracts ("the triad murders") until its ban in 1980. The (Isoméride), dexfenfluramine allowed in the United States in 1996, or the fenfluramine existing since 1973, see their marketing suspended late 1997 after the onset of valves Cardiac pathologies among patients.

Today, we find ephedrine in common products for deal with the colds. A few molecules of the amphetamines family remain legally marketed in France, including for the morbid obesities (benfluorex, sold under the Mediator name), the cessation (buproprion marketed under the name of Zyban) and deficit disorder the child hyperactivity (methylphenidate: Ritalin). The requirement of these drugs is governed by the rules of a decree of 1999 on the prescription drug products. Drift appear especially with the Ritalin, with apparently unfair requirements allowing to some adults to use this medication more often by injection.

"There are molecules with ecstasy dangerousness level which are" "always on the market", underlines Etienne Zurbach.

Become illegal, amphetamines are now consumed especially when festive events (gatherings techno, concerts, evenings in) (discos...). A law of November 2001 has more severely regulated the Organization of the possibilities for action while techno feasts of the judicial police in the vicinity of the discos or other traditional places consumption of narcotic drugs have been relaxed since 2005.

The trend 2008 report highlights the rejuvenation and a tendency to the feminisation of users and note "a growing interference" between the urban spaces and spaces festive techno who had their cultural codes separate in the 1990s with each their flagship products (opiates for) the first incentives for the latter) and their modes of uses (injection) for the first taken oral and sniff for the latter). Number of users, "stray youth", in particular, today stroll from a space to another, at the pace of their needs.

The gram prices vary depending on the quality of the product between 5 and 40 Euros. With an average around EUR 15 the gram what makes a product much more affordable than cocaine, according to trend. Prices are lower in the regions of the North-East because of the proximity of the Netherlands and the Belgium which enables a direct supply and bulk purchases. The amphetamines are little available in urban space, they are hardly sold the street except sometimes by SDF from Eastern Europe living in the wandering.

Amphetamines are perceived as less expensive cocaine - they are often nicknamed "the poor man’s cocaine"-, less cut only the cocaine or ecstasy, with lasting effects (6-8 hours). Users take them in raves to keep and increase their physical performance. In addition it is a market best product, it felt more manageable without strong dependency risks and causing no hallucinations. But there the hassle of bad taste, feel bad produce a "JAWS that stick" effect and, above all, cause of difficult and steep descents.

Available in the form of powder, pulp or tablets, amphetamines in powder are often snorted with a straw, effects appear then in a few minutes, or swallowed when they appear in the form of dough. But to avoid nose bleeds powder may also be packed in a sheet of paper to cigarette to be swallowed ("bomb") ("cylinder" or "parachute"), the effects are then wait approximately half an hour. Injection, which would give a "flash" and more sustainable and more intense effects is sometimes practiced but rather in urban stray young

Amphetamines are often associated with other products, such as the alcohol or cannabis to relax during effects, cocaine or LSD during the "mounted", heroin or benzodiazepine derivatives during the "descent". Recorded health damage include a State exhausted, depression, suicidal, ideas of paranoia crises. of addictions to other drugs to withstand the adverse effects of loss of appetite, etc. sleep disorders....

According to the report of the Governing Board of the police, the equivalent content amphetamine base is less than 10 % in over half of the cases studied that concern the powder, with an average of 17 %. "However, it" circulates powders with higher than 60 % levels ", marks" report. Caffeine is the main substance used to mix with amphetamine in production (59 % of cases), followed by sugars with mainly the lactose. (Amino acid) creatine can also be found.

France is one of the most repressive countries towards use and trafficking of drugs with an act dating back to 1970. Harm reduction has made its appearance in the middle of the 1990s, with the ability to prescribe any substitute for heroin medicines (1995) and is enshrined in the law public health since August 2004. France has an important statistical and administrative apparatus in the field of drug addiction but the associations accuse public policies of still lacking too often consistency and means.

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