NCJ Number
199606
Date Published
June 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This fact sheet presents information about the use and availability of amphetamines and ecstasy in the Caribbean region.
Abstract
The fact sheet explains that amphetamines are addictive stimulants that affect the central nervous system. Ecstasy is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects on its users. The short and long term effects of both types of drugs are examined. Short-term effects of amphetamine use include an increase in physical activity, heart rate, and blood pressure. Long-term effects of amphetamine use include the development of physical dependence, disorientation, and exhaustion. The short-term effects of ecstasy include an increase in physical energy, anxiety, and possible nausea. Long-term effects of ecstasy include the possibility of toxic effects on the brain and other organ tissue. The mode of administration is explained for both drugs, which include snorting, smoking, swallowing, or injecting for amphetamines and swallowing a tablet for ecstasy. Next, the fact sheet discusses the demand for amphetamines and ecstasy in the Caribbean. Recent surveys have indicated that the use of amphetamines is growing among young people in the region, while the use of ecstasy remains relatively low at 1 to 2 percent. However, over the past few years, law enforcement in the Caribbean report an increase in the number of confiscated ecstasy tablets. In conclusion, the fact sheet claims that although there is not a current epidemic of amphetamine or ecstasy use in the Caribbean, stimulant type drugs are gaining in popularity among teenagers in the region. As such, careful attention should be paid to ebbing the flow of drug trafficking in the Caribbean.