Now its time for more more Speed!

This month we will swiftly deal with the nasty habit of taking speed or uppers. We are all looking to boost our performance but at what price!

Drugs that excite bodily functions, especially those that excite the brain and central nervous system, are called stimulants. Probably the most widely used and the most socially acceptable stimulant is caffeine. Other common stimulants include nicotine (though nicotine is thought to act both as a short-term stimulant and as a long-term depressant) and the ingredients in many diet pills. So feel free to include a Day of Atonement fast at least once a week in your schedule and stop taking these wicked tablets.

There are two main types of nervous-system stimulants: those that make the user feel more alert and energetic and have only minor effects on the emotions and those that affect emotions. These are usually called antidepressants. Stimulants may be used medically to cope with sleep disorders, to control appetite, or to fight depression. Some persons, however, take certain stimulants simply to achieve a feeling of euphoria or to relieve boredom or tension. We know who you are!

There are many groups of stimulants. A group known as the tricyclic antidepressant drugs are extremely effective in treating depressed people. Another naturally occurring group of stimulants is the methylxanthines. This group includes caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine the active ingredients of coffee, tea, cocoa, and cola beverages. Bill Clinton swigs gallons of Diet Cola in an attempt to remove any stains on his character! The strongest of these stimulants is caffeine. In many persons it produces a clearer and more rapid flow of thought and helps to ward off drowsiness and fatigue. It may be used to treat respiratory depression and, because it constricts blood vessels in the brain, it is often an ingredient in headache remedies. In some instances, however, caffeine can cause overstimulation, headaches, heart palpitations, and insomnia.

Another common group of stimulants is the amphetamines. These are synthetic drugs that produce effects similar to those caused by adrenaline a natural hormone, produced in response to extreme situations, that prepares the body for activity (see Hormones). Amphetamines raise heartbeat and blood pressure, increase the glucose supply to muscles, stimulate breathing, and expand air passages. At the same time, they inhibit appetite, digestion, and excretion. {Mustapha Shiite, founder of the PFFTFOBM, is away on anuall leave so he is unable to comment.} With large doses the stimulating effect of amphetamines is followed by exhaustion and depression. Side effects can include nausea, agitation, loss of appetite, and rapid, irregular heartbeat. Overdoses can cause fever, hallucinations, convulsions, and coma. Continued overuse of amphetamines can cause mental illness, and long-term use leads to physical dependence and possibly to permanent brain damage. Thus, the medical uses of amphetamines are today limited primarily to the treatment of narcolepsy {a sleep disorder causing people to doze off in the middle of reading homepages!} and of hyperactivity in children. Cocaine, a white, crystalline drug, stimulates the cortex of the brain, producing euphoria. It may also produce auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations. Psychological dependency may develop in a short time, and large doses can cause convulsions, respiratory failure, and death. With the untimely passing of Flo Jo (the fastest women of her time) we have devoted this episode to help you avoid falling into abuse.

So next time you are cruising the dark side of town please ask for ice, uppers, pep, speed, bennies or whites. Don't forget to mention you heard about them from the Levinson Newrsoom and you will qualify for a 10% discount.

Fast Links

Speed up your CURSOR

So you want a quick flash!

Big Mac Calorie Counter

Now if you are into fast food you can calculate the fat from the comfort of your armchair!

Poetry in motion.

If you are a speed reader this is for you.

Speed Humps

Bumpy.

Game Time

Have Fun.

Online Speed!

Try it !

Speed equations!

Want to learn about Amdahl's law?

Alcohol/Dope Abuse

Good Advice..

Spanish Speeders Beware!

Ole!

Drug Abuse!!

Some tell tale signs.......see you next time.