Although some debate has echoed over recent years concerning availability of clandestine produced amphetamine, there may be some cause to believe that amphetamine is about to make a comeback.
Rumours abound that amphetamine is appearing on the street throughout East Coast Australia, and although it's said it's not pharmaceutically sourced dex, it is supposedly the single isomer (dextro not levo).
It certainly doesn't take much imagination and chem knowledge to pick the most suitable OTC precursor. I don't want to mention what I believe the starting product is, but I will say that if this is being done, it will start a whole new round of measures to limit supply. But who will get in first? The big buyers - tons of an unwatched precursor safely tucked away - or the authorities with an emergency scheduling?
More importantly perhaps to users is what needs to be considered in relation to HR and Amphetamine. If old meth users decide to instead dose up on amphetamine, a range of different physiological effects means increased health risks for anyone predisposed to heart failure or stroke.
Meth may cause more people to go crazy but compared with amphetamine it is far less likely that it will cause a heart attack at low doses. Amphetamine has more potential to do this at low dosage, and impurities from the production may further increase these risks (using the same "Aussie BBQ" process, some impurities found in Amp are different than those found in meth ).
What about the dude who's been taking speed for years but is used to the 20 hours plus duration? Amphetamine has a much shorter half-life, meaning redosing or higher initial dosing might occur.
When I was 18, after turning down an offer for a line of speed, I watched in horror as an older friend snorted a medium line, before the smile on his face turned to panic. He stood up and clutched his chest with both his hands before falling back in his chair. His heart was pounding that hard I was sure he'd die. Thankfully he didn't, and also that his respect for the drug changed from then on.