Speed and amphetamine addiction: honest help in the UK

Please read this first

Speed strains your heart. FRANK says speed puts a strain on your heart, that it’s definitely not advisable for anyone with high blood pressure, and that people have died from taking too much. It also warns there is a risk in using several stimulants at the same time, and that mixing drugs is always risky. Call 999 if someone has chest pain, a fit or collapses, and tell the crew what has been taken. Stay with them until help arrives, and if they’re unconscious but breathing, put them on their side in the recovery position.

Injecting is especially dangerous. FRANK warns that it’s easy to overdose when injecting speed, that the drug is often impure, and that sharing equipment can spread hepatitis and HIV.

Paranoia or seeing things. FRANK says speed can cause acute psychotic episodes, with seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. If that happens and doesn’t settle, get medical help, and call 999 if anyone is at risk of harm.

FRANK is confidential and open 24 hours on 0300 123 6600, or text 82111. When a speed comedown drags you down so far that you feel hopeless or think about ending your life, Samaritans will listen, free and at any hour, on 116 123.

Speed often starts as a way to keep going: through a long shift, an all nighter, a deadline or a weekend that doesn’t want to end. Then the comedowns start stretching across the week, sleep and appetite go, and before long you’re taking it just to feel normal. FRANK says regular users may take it to avoid withdrawal, which is often when people realise the drug is setting the pace rather than them.

This page covers speed (amphetamine) and other amphetamine-type stimulants, including ADHD medicines taken without a prescription. Crystal meth carries extra risks of its own, so it has a separate page on crystal meth.

Signs speed has become a problem

FRANK says speed is addictive and that tolerance can build, so you need more for the same effect. Signs to watch for include:

  • Needing more than you used to, or using more often
  • Using to get over the tiredness and low mood of the last comedown
  • Comedowns that leave you lethargic and sad for several days, which FRANK says can happen
  • Struggling to sleep or eat
  • Feeling anxious, irritable, aggressive or paranoid
  • Finding it hard to concentrate or learn, which FRANK links to regular use

FRANK also notes that speed is often cut with things like caffeine, sugars, laxatives, talcum powder or paracetamol, so you rarely know exactly what you’re taking.

ADHD medicines taken without a prescription

Some people take ADHD medicines that weren’t prescribed for them, such as Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) or Ritalin (methylphenidate), to stay awake, study or work longer. The NHS describes methylphenidate as a stimulant and a controlled drug. Under UK drug law, methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine are both Class B, the same class as speed (GOV.UK, 2025).

The NHS says the risk of becoming addicted to methylphenidate rises if it isn’t taken as prescribed, for example taken more often or at a higher dose. If you have your own prescription and are worried about how you’re using it, please don’t stop or change your dose on your own. The NHS advises only stopping methylphenidate if your doctor tells you to, because stopping suddenly can bring withdrawal symptoms such as depression. Speak to your prescriber or a pharmacist first.

Where to get help with amphetamines in the UK

  • Your GP. The NHS says a GP may be a good place to start. They can check your heart, sleep and mood, and refer you to a drug service.
  • Your prescriber or pharmacist. If the medicine is prescribed for you, they’re the people to talk to before you change anything.
  • FRANK. Day or night, FRANK’s confidential line is 0300 123 6600, and you can also text 82111. Read FRANK’s guide to speed.
  • Local drug services. You can contact one yourself without going through your GP, and you’ll be given a keyworker to support you. Find support near you
  • Support groups. Narcotics Anonymous runs meetings across the UK, with a helpline on 0300 999 1212 (10am to midnight), and SMART Recovery runs free meetings in person and online.
  • For family and friends. Addiction Family Support has a helpline on 0300 888 3853, and Adfam helps families find local support.

Where hypnotherapy fits

Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist

Hypnotherapy is not a treatment for amphetamine dependence, and I don’t offer it as one. Your GP or a drug service, and your prescriber if a medicine is involved, need to be part of your recovery.

Where I can help is alongside that care. Speed is often about pressure: to perform, to keep up, to never be the one who flags. When you stop, you’re left with tiredness, broken sleep and a nagging fear that you can’t cope without it. Our sessions can focus on stress, sleep, confidence at work or study, and the routines and places linked to using. The work is still yours, but you won’t be doing it with nothing to lean on.

Before we work together I’ll ask whether you’re getting support from your GP, a drug service or your prescriber. If I think you need that support first, I’ll tell you honestly.

How to stop taking speed: day to day steps

  • Protect your sleep. Go to bed and get up at the same times, even when it feels pointless at first. The NHS has practical sleep advice.
  • Eat on a timetable. FRANK says speed suppresses appetite, so set times for meals rather than waiting to feel hungry.
  • Look at the workload. If you’ve been using to keep up, the hours or the deadlines may need to change too. Talking to a manager or tutor can feel risky, but it’s often less risky than carrying on.
  • Remove the easy routes. Delete the numbers, and don’t keep a stash for emergencies.
  • Watch the caffeine. Swapping one stimulant for a pile of energy drinks keeps the same cycle going. My page on energy drinks has ideas.

If you also use cocaine, my cocaine page lists more support.

Common questions

Is speed addictive?

Yes. FRANK says speed is addictive, that tolerance can build, and that regular users may take it to avoid withdrawal. The comedown can last several days, which makes it tempting to use again just to get through.

Is it dangerous to take Elvanse or Ritalin without a prescription?

Both are controlled drugs, and both are Class B under UK drug law. The NHS describes methylphenidate as a stimulant and says the risk of addiction rises when it isn’t taken as prescribed. If you’re relying on someone else’s ADHD medicine to get through work or study, or you wonder whether you have ADHD yourself, talk to your GP about it.

How long does a speed comedown last?

FRANK says the buzz usually lasts 3 to 6 hours, but the comedown can last several days, with people often feeling lethargic and sad. If the low doesn’t lift, or you feel hopeless, please talk to your GP or call Samaritans on 116 123.

Is it confidential?

Yes. What you tell me stays between us. As with any therapist, the only exception is if I believed you or someone else were at serious risk of harm.

I’m worried about someone else’s speed use. What can I do?

Addiction Family Support and Adfam are there for families and friends. If the person has chest pain, collapses or seems to be seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, call 999. The decision to stop belongs to them, but getting support for yourself is a sensible step, not a betrayal.

Talk it through

If you’re already getting support and want help alongside it, book a £49 consultation call. We’ll talk about what you’re dealing with and whether sessions would help with the work you’re already doing. We meet one to one on Zoom, and I record the hypnosis part so you can listen again later. You can also see session options and prices.

Book a consultation (£49)

Written by Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist. Sources: FRANK, speed; FRANK, what to do in an emergency;NHS, methylphenidate for adults; NHSBSA dm+d, Elvanse; GOV.UK, controlled drugs list; NHS, drug addiction: getting help. Checked October 2026.