The purpose of this report is to determine the effects of amphetamine on the brain. The main focus of this report will be the use of amphetamine in elite sports performance. This report will discuss the use of amphetamine in elite sports performance all around the world and in many different sports. It also explores the effects on athletes that use amphetamine.
Elite sports performance is extremely important to society as it provides income and careers for some elite athletes. It also provides a form of entertainment for all ages and families. It can also offer a connection to all people across the world. Not matter what someone’s culture, religion, gender or sexuality they can connect to sport. Elite sports performance is also very important for younger generations, it gives them the motivation to go outside and play sports instead of staying inside playing video games all day. It also gives them heroes, people to look up to and inspire to be like.
First this report will discuss the how amphetamine is produced and it’s many different forms. Next the chemical properties will be deliberated as well as the ways amphetamine can be used in the medial felid. The way that amphetamine enters the bloodstream and how it effects the brain will then be talked about. Lastly the report will discuss how amphetamine effects elite sport performance in many different ways.
Elite sports performance is extremely important to society as it provides income and careers for some elite athletes. It also provides a form of entertainment for all ages and families. It can also offer a connection to all people across the world. Not matter what someone’s culture, religion, gender or sexuality they can connect to sport. Elite sports performance is also very important for younger generations, it gives them the motivation to go outside and play sports instead of staying inside playing video games all day. It also gives them heroes, people to look up to and inspire to be like.
First this report will discuss the how amphetamine is produced and it’s many different forms. Next the chemical properties will be deliberated as well as the ways amphetamine can be used in the medial felid. The way that amphetamine enters the bloodstream and how it effects the brain will then be talked about. Lastly the report will discuss how amphetamine effects elite sport performance in many different ways.
Background
Amphetamine is a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system. Amphetamine is formed from phenylacetone which first reacts with formamaide to produce an intermediate product. This then reacts with carbon dioxide to make amphetamine formamide. This then reacts with acid to make amphetamine. When amphetamine is produced it forms an oil base. In addition, amphetamine can take the form of liquid, crystal or powder (which is naturally white). Powder is a favourite type of amphetamine for illegal street drug buyers of the drug that know it better as Speed or Uppers. This is because it can be made from less pure amphetamine and is sold for cheaper prices, the basic street product of the drug has less than 15% of pure Amphetamine. In the pharmacy world tablets and capsules are the most form of amphetamine. |
| Figure 1: The Chemical Synthesis of Amphetamine, Retrieved from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphetamine |
Amphetamine has a chemical formula of C9H13N and has a ring structure. The systematic name of Amphetamine is 1-phenyloropan-2-amine and is part of the phenethylamine functional group.
Amphetamine melts at 11.3 degrees Celsius and has a boiling point of 200 to 203 degrees Celsius at atmospheric pressures. Amphetamine’s average mass is 135.206 g/mol and is slightly soluble in water in its powdered from, but is not soluble in water in its natural oil based form. The state of Amphetamine at room temperature is solid.
Amphetamine can be used to treat the medical diseases Narcolepsy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, and Obesity. Even though Amphetamine treats many different diseases it also has many side effects to taking the drug, head ache, weight loss and anxiety being the most common among uses of Amphetamine. Tremors, dizziness, insomnia, irritability and restlessness. Abdominal pain, vomiting, angina, hypertension, confusion, paranoia and delirium. Cerebral haemorrhage, Mental illness and Death can also be experienced while taking Amphetamine.
The way that amphetamine absorbs into the blood stream depends on the way the user takes it and what from it is in. Amphetamine can be taken in many different ways. It can be injected, made into a tablet or capsule as a liquid, snorted as a powder or smoked or taken orally in crystal form. If amphetamine is snorted as a powder it gets caught in the nasal passage, which then absorbs into the blood stream through the mucous membranes in the nose.
When Amphetamine is injected into the body the effects of the drug begin right away because it is being injected straight into the blood stream. However, this type of procedure is very risky because if the drug is injected in the wrong place it can cause swelling, loss of feeling, discolouration and infection to the injection site. The time amphetamine takes to effect the user depends on administration. For example, if the user snorted it the effect takes 2 to 10 minutes and if you inject it the effect can be felt instantly. Some of the effects of amphetamine use are the feeling of euphoria, sudden feeling confidence and power, hallucinations and increased body temperature.
The use of Amphetamine signals the endocrine system to produce the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine to be released into the synapse from the nerve ending of a nerve. Once these neurotransmitters cross the synapse they bind onto receptor sites on the dendrites of another nerve. Once the neurotransmitters have attached themselves to the nerve and the receptor sites have been activated. An action potential carrying the signal of the amphetamine will travel down the nerve all of the way to the nerve ending and the process starts all over again. This process continues until the signal reaches the reward pathway.
The reward pathway (also known as the limbic system), is activated when the action potential carrying the amphetamine signal arrives in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), once it has arrived here the VTA sends another action potential to the nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens then releases the neurotransmitter dopamine onto the prefrontal cortex. This sudden release of neurotransmitters stimulates an emotional response to the use of amphetamine and makes the user feel the effects of the drug.
Through this stimulus the reward pathway can be effected by excess neurotransmitters that are released into the synapse. The drug can also block transporter molecules causing the neurotransmitters to remain in the synapse and continue to interact with the reactor sites without making bonds. These blocked transporter molecules can increase the discharge of neurotransmitters from the nerve ending, this can cause flooding. The flooding will then continue to stimulate the receptor sites on the adjacent neuron. The over stimulation of this pathway can cause addition to amphetamine.
These effects can be very tempting for elite athletes. This is because they would be able to complete for longer without trying as hard, therefore they could focus all of their energy on technique and method. Some sports that amphetamine use can be helpful in to some athletes are, cycling, long distance running and rowing. This is because all of these sports require stamina and endurance which athletes crave when using amphetamine.
Many athletes have taken amphetamine since the 1930s when it was first used to when it was added to the banned substance list. In the 2004 Athens Olympics there were 26 reported cases of athletes using performance enhancing drugs.
Some of the most famous amphetamine cases being, Danish cyclists Kurt Enemar Jensen. Jensen was using amphetamine to improve his performance in the 100km team trials in the 1960 Rome Summer Olympic Games, unfortunately 2hrs after the trails he was found in his hotel room deceased. This was caused by an overdose of amphetamine and ronicol.
Another athlete who has been known to take this drug is British cyclists Tommy Simpson who competed in the 1957 Tour De France on amphetamine. He also died from an overdose of alcohol and amphetamine while riding.
The use of amphetamine in elite sports performance is disgraceful. Not only does it cause death and illness but it is a mockery of the sport that the athlete is competing in. It can cause serious loss of confidence and self-image because using amphetamine in sporting circumstances is illegal and a form of cheating. Cheating is horrible and no way to win. It is horrible that it is being used as much as it is today. This large amount of amphetamine abuses and ridicule of good sports was the reason the WADA (world anti-doping agency) banned amphetamine use from all sports across the world. Children look up to athletes and drug uses are no inspirations to the next generation of the world.
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| Figure 2: The Chemical Structure of Amphetamine, Retrieved from, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D-amphetamine.svg |
Amphetamine can be used to treat the medical diseases Narcolepsy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, and Obesity. Even though Amphetamine treats many different diseases it also has many side effects to taking the drug, head ache, weight loss and anxiety being the most common among uses of Amphetamine. Tremors, dizziness, insomnia, irritability and restlessness. Abdominal pain, vomiting, angina, hypertension, confusion, paranoia and delirium. Cerebral haemorrhage, Mental illness and Death can also be experienced while taking Amphetamine.
The way that amphetamine absorbs into the blood stream depends on the way the user takes it and what from it is in. Amphetamine can be taken in many different ways. It can be injected, made into a tablet or capsule as a liquid, snorted as a powder or smoked or taken orally in crystal form. If amphetamine is snorted as a powder it gets caught in the nasal passage, which then absorbs into the blood stream through the mucous membranes in the nose.
When Amphetamine is injected into the body the effects of the drug begin right away because it is being injected straight into the blood stream. However, this type of procedure is very risky because if the drug is injected in the wrong place it can cause swelling, loss of feeling, discolouration and infection to the injection site. The time amphetamine takes to effect the user depends on administration. For example, if the user snorted it the effect takes 2 to 10 minutes and if you inject it the effect can be felt instantly. Some of the effects of amphetamine use are the feeling of euphoria, sudden feeling confidence and power, hallucinations and increased body temperature.
The use of Amphetamine signals the endocrine system to produce the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine to be released into the synapse from the nerve ending of a nerve. Once these neurotransmitters cross the synapse they bind onto receptor sites on the dendrites of another nerve. Once the neurotransmitters have attached themselves to the nerve and the receptor sites have been activated. An action potential carrying the signal of the amphetamine will travel down the nerve all of the way to the nerve ending and the process starts all over again. This process continues until the signal reaches the reward pathway.
The reward pathway (also known as the limbic system), is activated when the action potential carrying the amphetamine signal arrives in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), once it has arrived here the VTA sends another action potential to the nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens then releases the neurotransmitter dopamine onto the prefrontal cortex. This sudden release of neurotransmitters stimulates an emotional response to the use of amphetamine and makes the user feel the effects of the drug.
Through this stimulus the reward pathway can be effected by excess neurotransmitters that are released into the synapse. The drug can also block transporter molecules causing the neurotransmitters to remain in the synapse and continue to interact with the reactor sites without making bonds. These blocked transporter molecules can increase the discharge of neurotransmitters from the nerve ending, this can cause flooding. The flooding will then continue to stimulate the receptor sites on the adjacent neuron. The over stimulation of this pathway can cause addition to amphetamine.
Discussion
Amphetamine is part of the banned substance list of performance enhancing drugs and for a good reason. Amphetamine can effect elite sports performance in many different ways. In addition to some previously stated, some of the effects of taking amphetamine can be increased physical strength, stamina, endurance and in high doses the body can continue these effects even through increase of body temperature and muscle breakdown.These effects can be very tempting for elite athletes. This is because they would be able to complete for longer without trying as hard, therefore they could focus all of their energy on technique and method. Some sports that amphetamine use can be helpful in to some athletes are, cycling, long distance running and rowing. This is because all of these sports require stamina and endurance which athletes crave when using amphetamine.
Many athletes have taken amphetamine since the 1930s when it was first used to when it was added to the banned substance list. In the 2004 Athens Olympics there were 26 reported cases of athletes using performance enhancing drugs.
Some of the most famous amphetamine cases being, Danish cyclists Kurt Enemar Jensen. Jensen was using amphetamine to improve his performance in the 100km team trials in the 1960 Rome Summer Olympic Games, unfortunately 2hrs after the trails he was found in his hotel room deceased. This was caused by an overdose of amphetamine and ronicol.
Another athlete who has been known to take this drug is British cyclists Tommy Simpson who competed in the 1957 Tour De France on amphetamine. He also died from an overdose of alcohol and amphetamine while riding.
The use of amphetamine in elite sports performance is disgraceful. Not only does it cause death and illness but it is a mockery of the sport that the athlete is competing in. It can cause serious loss of confidence and self-image because using amphetamine in sporting circumstances is illegal and a form of cheating. Cheating is horrible and no way to win. It is horrible that it is being used as much as it is today. This large amount of amphetamine abuses and ridicule of good sports was the reason the WADA (world anti-doping agency) banned amphetamine use from all sports across the world. Children look up to athletes and drug uses are no inspirations to the next generation of the world.
Conclusion
This report has explored the effects of amphetamine on the brain and therefore elite sports performance. It has covered the procedure in making amphetamine and its raw materials formamaide and phenylacetone. It has also talked about amphetamines chemical properties and it’s many different forms including powder and liquid, in different felids like pharmacies and illegal drug vendors. This report has also looked at the effects of amphetamine in the world of elite sport. How it can effect stamina and other physical qualities of athletes and some of the consequences that came to some of these said athletes after using amphetamine. Other things this report has covered are the reasons that amphetamine is on the banned substance list and the large amount of amphetamine abuses all over the world. The effects on the brain after amphetamine use is over production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. All of these excess neurotransmitters being released into the synapse cause blockages of transporter molecules. With the transporter molecules blocked no neurotransmitters can leave the synapse, this causes flooding and over stimulation, this is what causes addiction to amphetamine. This process happens every time someone uses Amphetamine and gets worse over time. Some of the effects that can be felt when this over stimulation occurs are increase in stamina, endurance and physical strength. These assets of amphetamine are very tempting to elite athletes because with this drug they can perform better in their chosen sports. Even though all of these effects of amphetamine can seem great if you would like to get ahead in elite sports performance faster there can be many side effects physically and emotionally. Some side effects of overdoes in sporting circumstances can be hallucinations, increase of body temperature and even death. Some other effects of using amphetamine in elite sports performance can be loss of confidence because it cheating and the wrong way to win. Amphetamine being used in elite sports performance is not-right and should never be used to get ahead of other athletes that respect the world of sports.Public Education Piece
My public education piece is a video to advise the general public of the information learned during this research assignment.
References
Chemspider. (2015). Amphetamine. Retrieved from http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.13852819.html
Australian Drug Foundation. (2016). Amphetamine Facts. Retrieved from http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/drug-facts/amphetamines#skiptocontent
Centre for Substance Abuse Research. (2013). Amphetamines. Retrieved from http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/amphetamines.asp#links
Wikipedia. (2014). NCAA Banned Substances. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w iki/NCAA_banned_substances
New Health Advisor. (2014). How Long Do Amphetamines Stay in Your System. Retrieved from http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/How-Long-Do-Amphetamines-Stay-In-Your-System.html
BigTrancer. (21 of April 2005). Renegade’s Amphetamine FAQ. Retrieved from http://www.bluelight.org/vb/threads/197113-Amphetamine-FAQ
My Dr. (2001). Amphetamines (speed) What are the Effects. Retrieved from http://www.mydr.com.au/addictions/amphetamines-speed-what-are-the-effects
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