During the early 1970s in the United States, amphetamine became a schedule II controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. As the addictive properties of the drugs became known, governments began to place strict controls on the sale of the drugs. ĭuring World War II, amphetamine and methamphetamine were used extensively by Allied and Axis forces for their stimulant and performance-enhancing effects. Neither drug had a pharmacological use until 1934, when Smith, Kline & French began selling amphetamine as an inhaler under the trade name Benzedrine for congestion. Methamphetamine was synthesized from ephedrine in 1893 by Nagayoshi. Around the same time, Japanese organic chemist Nagai Nagayoshi isolated ephedrine from the Chinese ephedra plant and later developed a method for ephedrine synthesis.
When used recreationally, they are colloquially known as 'speed.' Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 in Germany by Romanian chemist Lazăr Edeleanu, who named it phenylisopropylamine.
This article is about the socio-cultural aspects and history of amphetamine and methamphetamine.Īmphetamine and methamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants used to treat a variety of conditions.
