GAH SHIIBII'CH – SPEED: HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME?
Gah shiibii'ch (Speed) is an illegal drug made of amphetamine and methamphetamine, both powerful stimulants affecting how your brain works. It acts on your central nervous system. People using speed may be feeling pumped, have an increased heart rate, but also become anxious and experience harmful effects.
Speed can come as pills or powder of various colours (white, brown, grey, pink...). It can be swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected. Effects of speed are felt within 30 minutes if swallowed or snorted. Its effects are similar to gah waabahge (cocaine) but can last up to 12h.
HOW DOES SPEED AFFECT ME?
- Speed can lead to addiction.
- It can cause serious short and long-term physical and mental effects.
- Mixing speed with substances such as other drugs, alcohol, caffeine or sugar can increase your risk of harm.
- Overdose is possible. If you are thinking about stopping, support and resources are available.
Did you know?
Speed can and is often mixed with other drugs, caffeine and binding agents like toxic chemicals. At least 46% of found methamphetamine is laced. Remember, you never know what you are taking.
You may not eat, drink or go to the bathroom when using speed, which can disbalance your body. If you have a chronic health condition, the risks are even greater.
Short-term physical effects include:
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Increased heartbeat
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Jaw clenching, teeth grinding
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Overheating your body
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Seizure
Mental effects of using speed, even just one time, include:
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Feeling alert, restless, more talkative – you may not sleep for days
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Feeling anxious, paranoid
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Easily agitated
- Taking risky decisions that can lead to harm, unsafe intimacy and increased risk of sexually transmitted infection.
After taking speed, you may have a comedown (withdrawal symptoms or crash) lasting from 2 to 4 days. You may experience:
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Poor sleep, exhaustion – seek medical attention if you have been up for 3 days or more
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Headaches and confusion
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Aches and pain
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Anxiety, irritability, paranoia
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Hallucination
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Depression.
You may become tolerant to speed, it means you need consume more to get the same effects. Speed is addictive, it can be hard to stop or get through the day without it.
Long-term effects include:
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Hallucinations – seeing and hearing things that are not there
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Loss of appetite, extreme weight loss
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Teeth and gums damages
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Heart and kidney problems
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Increased chances of stroke and heart attack
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Brain damage
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Behaviour issues and picking of the skin.
Speed can isolate you from friends, family and lead you to avoid activities that you enjoy. Mental health issues linked to using speed include:
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Anxiety
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Difficulty sleeping, nightmares
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Depression
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Memory and concentration problems
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Violent behaviour
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Suicidal thoughts and suicide.
Did you know?
Doing speed frequently, binging or using high dose can also cause psychosis – similar to schizophrenia. If you have psychosis from speed, you may hallucinate and become aggressive.
OVERDOSING ON SPEED
If you use too much speed or if it is containing unexpected substances (bad batch), you are at risk of severe intoxication or overdose.
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF SPEED OVERDOSE INCLUDE:
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Fast heartbeat
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Struggling to breathe
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Fits, convulsions or seizures
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Fever
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Feeling panicked, paranoid, or hallucinating
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Vomiting
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Sleepiness, fainting or unresponsiveness
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Complications: stroke, heart attack, body overheating, liver or kidney failure.
Overdose can lead to death.
If someone overdoses on speed, call your local emergency number right away. Stay with them – this could save their life.
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act gives some legal protection for people who call for help during an overdose.
If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them in a recovery position until help arrives:
STAY INFORMED. STAY SAFE
GAH SHIIBII'CH (SPEED) IS ILLEGAL BUT IF I CHOOSE TO USE, HOW CAN I BE SAFER?
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Use only with people you know and trust. Don’t do it alone.
- Start low, go slow: take small dose to minimize health risks and the risks of overconsumption
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Avoid mixing with other drugs and alcohol.
THINKING OF STOPPING?
Getting off speed can be difficult. You will likely experience withdrawal symptoms, which reduce after a week and disappear after a month.
The National Native Alcohol & Drug Addiction Program (NNADAP) offers services and activities for individuals dealing with substance abuse, as well as to reduce and prevent alcohol and drug addiction in Eeyou Istchee. It is a safe space to seek help.
The Wiichihiiwaauwin (Mental Health) Helpline is a service available 24/7 in Eeyou Istchee.
Need Help? If you, a friend or a family member is seeking help regarding drug addiction, know that you are not alone. The NNADAP workers and Wiichihiiwaauwin (Mental Health) Helpline are here to support you.
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