Habituation and addiction to amphetamines.

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The group of amphetamine drugs has been available since 1935. Used at first for narcolepsy, they have since found a place in the treatment of barbiturate poisoning, nocturnal enuresis, epilepsy, behaviour disorders, neurasthenic and depressive syndromes, and post encephalitic Parkinsonism as well as such relatively normal states as fatigue when driving or in combat, obesity, and hangovers. The amphetamines in general are prescribed readily and light-heartedly, and indeed there is official support for such a practice. The Ministry of Health's Annual Report for 1954 included this statement : The drugs of this group [that is, the amphetamines] have the advantage of being relatively non-toxic, addiction to them is rare, and there are no serious ill-effects ; they may therefore be given to out patients without undue risk. Leake (1958) states: Gradually, as experience with the amphetamines has ripened they have become firmly established as versatile and helpful remedies given to millions of people and under such conditions as to offer remarkably low potential for causing harm or unwanted effects. In an answer given in the British Medical Journal (1961) was noted that true addiction to the ampheta mines probably does not occur, and that there would appear to be no particular reason why this preparation should not be continued indefinitely ; and Stungo (1961) states that a number of long-term studies have failed to reveal any evidence of either addiction or true habituation to the amphetamines, and later adds, it can accordingly be categorically stated that addiction or habituation to amphetamines alone is extremely rare. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that these statements are dangerously inaccurate and that a considerable abuse of the amphetamines and of phen metrazine exists, habituation and addiction occurring very frequently in our society.