If you use speed regularly your mind can get a bit messed up and start playing tricks on you. At first you'll probably know that what's going on is from the drugs... but if you keep using you may start to believe these things are real and no longer understand it's because of your drug use. This is commonly referred to as psychosis.

Typical features of amphetamine psychosis include paranoia or persecution, feelings that people are talking about you behind your back and feelings of control over others. Unlike people with schizophrenia, speed users are usually aware that these feelings are drug induced; that is, they retain insight. High-dose users generally accept that they will sooner or later experience paranoia. Aware of this, they are usually able to cope with it.

A break from using is usually enough to get things back to normal.

Take a break if you -

• Have been using speed for days at a time or regularly on weekends;
• Are looking for that rock or deal that you hid somewhere and pulling everything apart to find it;
• Keep having strange thoughts that won't go away like aliens are sending you messages via your phone, etc;
• Are imagining things that aren't really there (like bugs or parasites under the skin, hair or webs are all over you, cops are surrounding you, etc);
• Are picking at sores, pimples or blackheads or just general picking, especially if you're in the mirror for hours and you come out with your face looking like a mess;
• Feel overly suspicious of your friends or other people;
• Feel like you are being watched or noticed by more people;
• Feel extremely jealous towards others; or
• Experience anxiety or depression

If you start to experience 1 or more of these things, it's advisable to try and stop using - have a break for a while. While most times things will go back to normal, if you don't stop using you may have psychosis forever, even after you stop using drugs.

If taking a break doesn't help, see a doctor or psychologist to see what's happening - you may need medication for a while until things get back in order.

Detoxification programs can usually assist with this and can also help you to rest so you can regain your health and well-being.

It may help to get some info from your local user group.

If you notice a friend is;

• consumed with paranoia and/or,
• has a compounding conspiracy theory happening or,
• convinced they are under surveillance or,
• are finding convoluted meanings in small things, then -

They may need a bit of help. The best thing they can do is to stop using. This can be difficult, and it's a hard subject to bring up unless you have the person's confidence and trust. The more a person uses the more it will continue and the worse it will get.

If you happen to be with someone who starts losing it (if they are getting agitated, uncomfortable, paranoid, uneasy, distrustful) try your best to physically take them to a quiet space away from other people, loud music and crowds. Get them on their own and slowly talk them down. Panic in these situations generates further panic which can be a downer for the person involved and their friends as well.