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What Are Psychostimulants?

Psychostimulants are drugs that make a person’s brain send signals more quickly. They can make people feel excited and put them in a better mood. Caffeine and nicotine are more mild types of stimulants, while drugs like cocaine, meth and ecstasy are much stronger.

When people use stimulants too much, it can have a negative effect on their brain and body. This is called “overamping” and it can be very dangerous.

Common Signs of Overamping

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Racing heart
  • Severe headache
  • Slurred speech
  • Weakness on one side of the face or body
  • Can't sleep
  • Agitation
  • Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things other people don't)
  • Feeling overheated, high-temperature
  • Not eating or drinking

What to Do When Someone Is Overamping

How to Relieve Mild Symptoms

  • Take a nap

  • Use ice packs or a cool shower

  • Drink water or sports drink with electrolytes

  • Eat some food

When to call 911

Overamping can quickly become life-threatening. Call 911 if the person is overheating, showing stroke-like symptoms, heart attack symptoms or appears to be having a seizure.

  • Overheating (temperature is 104° or higher), especially if the person is confused or unconscious

  • Stroke-like symptoms (severe headache, slurred speech, disorientation, one-sided weakness)

  • Heart attack symptoms (chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing, nausea, racing or slow heart rate)

  • Seizure (loss of muscle control, shaking, twitching, body stiffness)

How to Avoid Overamping

  • There are things that can help reduce the risk of overamping.

  • Get enough sleep

  • Eat something and drink plenty of water

  • Use in a comfortable environment with trusted friends

  • Try breathing or meditation exercises

  • Go for a walk and get fresh air

  • Take a warm shower

  • Get checked out at a local clinic that you trust, where you can be honest about drug use

  • Have someone you trust check in on you

  • Learn how to administer naloxone in case of overdose, especially if using with other drugs, like opioids.

Overamping and Infectious Disease

Using drugs may alter judgment, lower inhibitions and can increase risky sexual behaviors. Having unprotected sex or sharing “works,” such as needles and syringes, can transmit infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis C, and infective endocarditis.

Learn More

Contacts

If you or someone you care about uses stimulants and may be at risk of overamping, call your county SCA (Single County Authority) for Substance Use Services:

  • Recovery Is Community
    1-814-449-3089
  • Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol
    1-814-451-6877
  • Crawford County Drug and Alcohol
    1-814-724-4100
  • Venango County Substance Use Program
    1-814-432-9100
  • Warren County Drug and Alcohol
    1-814-726-2100
  • Clarion County Drug and Alcohol
    1-814-226-6350

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