Overview
These are potent stimulant drugs that, like cocaine, excite or speed up the central nervous system. Some are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies for medical use, while most are manufactured by illegal labs for non-medical purposes. Amphetamines, also referred to as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), were developed in the 1920s to treat depression and obesity, but stringent controls have greatly reduced medical use in Canada.
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Selected Readings
Prescription Drug Abuse FAQ [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), June 2007
Fighting Back: Report and Recommendations of the Premier's Task Force on Crystal MethGovernment of Alberta, September 2006
Rapid Assessments of Substance Abuse Problems: Guidelines and Resources with an Emphasis on the Use and Abuse of Methamphetamine in Canada [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), July 2006
Crystal Meth: What You Need to Know [PDF]
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), May 2006
Co-ordinated Alberta Response to Methamphetamine [PDF]
Alberta Health Services (AHS), Second Edition, April 2006
Methamphetamine Use Down Among Ontario Students, 1999-2005 [PDF]
CAMH Population Studies eBulletin, Vol. 7, No. 2, March/April 2006
Methamphetamine [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), revised August 2005
A Community Guide: Strategies and Interventions for Dealing with Crystal Methamphetamine and Other Emerging Drug Trends [PDF]
Fraser Health, June 2005
Western Canadian Summit on Methamphetamine - Bringing Together Practitioners, Policy Makers and Researchers: Consensus Panel Report [PDF]
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), April 2005
A Community Stakeholder View of Crystal Meth in Edmonton: Trends, Challenges, Strategies and Needs [PDF]
Ann Goldblatt, Consultant, February 2004
Crystal Meth and Other Amphetamines: An Integrated BC Strategy [PDF]
British Columbia Ministry of Health, 2004
Related Resources
Amphetamines: The ABCs [PDF]
Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Amphetamines: Beyond the ABCs [PDF]
Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Crystal Meth Secretariat, Government of British Columbia
Ecstasy: The ABCs [PDF]
Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Information Campaign on Crystal Meth, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
no2meth, Government of British Columbia
Premier's Task Force on Crystal Meth, Government of Alberta
Straight Facts About Drugs and Drug Abuse, Health Canada