Amphetamine usage, misuse, and addiction processes: an overview

Amphetamine (D-amphetamine, dextroamphetamine) is a synthetic drug that possesses psychostimulant and performance-enhancing properties. Amphetamine has some medical indications, especially for those conditions characterized by reduced attention. However, the performance-enhancing effects of amphetamine, together with its euphoriant properties, often lead to its misuse and abuse outside the medical setting. This chapter overviews the effects of amphetamine, summarizing the medical indications of this drug, and discussing the factors that underlie its misuse and abuse. Moreover, the health risks related to these practices are discussed, in addition to interactions between amphetamine and other psychoactive substances, and to the neurotoxic potential of amphetamine.