On speed : the many lives of amphetamine

Life in the Fast Lane: The author on the CHE Uppers. Crank. Bennies. Dexies. Greenies. Black Beauties. Purple Hearts. Crystal. Ice. And, of course, Speed. Whatever their street names at the moment, amphetamines have been an insistent force in American life since they were marketed as the original antidepressants in the 1930s. On Speed tells the remarkable story of their rise, their fall, and their surprising resurgence. Along the way, it discusses the influence of pharmaceutical marketing on medicine, the evolving scientific understanding of how the human brain works, the role of drugs in maintaining the social order, and the centrality of pills in American life. Above all, however, this is a highly readable biography of a very popular drug. And it is a riveting story. Incorporating extensive new research, On Speed describes the ups and downs (fittingly, there are mostly ups) in the history of amphetamines, and their remarkable pervasiveness. For example, at the same time that amphetamines were becoming part of the diet of many GIs in World War II, an amphetamine-abusing counterculture began to flourish among civilians. In the 1950s, psychiatrists and family doctors alike prescribed amphetamines for a wide variety of ailments, from mental disorders to obesity to emotional distress. By the late 1960s, speed had become a fixture in everyday life: up to ten percent of Americans were thought to be using amphetamines at least occasionally.Although their use was regulated in the 1970s, it didn't take long for amphetamines to make a major comeback, with the discovery of Attention Deficit Disorder and the role that one drug in the amphetamine family—Ritalin—could play in treating it. Today’s most popular diet-assistance drugs differ little from the diet pills of years gone by, still speed at their core. And some of our most popular recreational drugs—including the "mellow" drug, Ecstasy—are also amphetamines. Whether we want to admit it or not, writes Rasmussen, we’re still a nation on speed. Uppers. Crank. Bennies. Dexies. Greenies. Black Beauties. Purple Hearts. Crystal. Ice. And, Of Course, Speed. Whatever Their Street Names At The Moment, Amphetamines Have Been An Insistent Force In American Life Since They Were Marketed As The Original Antidepressants In The 1930s. On Speed Tells The Remarkable Story Of Their Rise, Their Fall, And Their Surprising Resurgence. Along The Way, It Discusses The Influence Of Pharmaceutical Marketing On Medicine, The Evolving Scientific Understanding Of How The Human Brain Works, The Role Of Drugs In Maintaining The Social Order, And The Centrality Of Pills In American Life. Above All, However, This Is A Highly Readable Biography Of A Very Popular Drug. And It Is A Riveting Story. Incorporating Extensive New Research, On Speed Describes The Ups And Downs (fittingly, There Are Mostly Ups) In The History Of Amphetamines, And Their Remarkable Pervasiveness. For Example, At The Same Time That Amphetamines Were Becoming Part Of The Diet Of Many Gis In World War Ii, An Amphetamine-abusing Counterculture Began To Flourish Among Civilians. In The 1950s, Psychiatrists And Family Doctors Alike Prescribed Amphetamines For A Wide Variety Of Ailments, From Mental Disorders To Weight Problems To Emotional Distress. By The Late 1960s, Speed Had Become A Fixture In Everyday Life: More Than 7% Of Americans Were Active Users Of Amphetamines. Although Their Use Was Regulated In The 1970s, It Didn't Take Long For Amphetamines To Make A Major Comeback, With The Discovery Of Attention Deficit Disorder And The Role That One Drug In The Amphetamine Family - Ritalin - Could Play In Treating It. Today's Most Popular Diet-assistance Drugs Differ Little From The Diet Pills Of Years Gone By, Still Speed At Their Core. And Some Of Our Most Popular Recreational Drugs - Including The Supposedly Mellow Drug, Ecstasy - Are Also Amphetamines. Whether We Want To Admit It Or Not, Writes Rasmussen, We're Still A Nation On Speed.--jacket. The New Sensation -- Benzedrine : The Making Of A Modern Medicine -- Speed And Total War -- Bootleggers, Beatniks, And Benzedrine Benders -- A Bromide For The Atomic Age -- Amphetamine And The Go-go Years -- Amphetamine's Decline : From Mental Medicine To Social Disease -- Fast Forward : Still On Speed, 1971 To Today. Nicolas Rasmussen. Errata Slip Inserted. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 261-347) And Index. An extensively researched account of the ups and downs in the history of uppers Uppers. Crank. Bennies. Dexies. Greenies. Black Beauties. Purple Hearts. Crystal. Ice. And, of course, Speed. Whatever their street names at the moment, amphetamines have been an insistent force in American life since they were marketed as the original antidepressants in the 1930s. On Speed tells the remarkable story of their rise, their fall, and their surprising resurgence. Along the way, it discusses the influence of pharmaceutical marketing on medicine, the evolving scientific understanding of how the human brain works, the role of drugs in maintaining the social order, and the centrality of pills in American life. Above all, however, this is a highly readable biography of a very popular drug. And it is a riveting story. Incorporating extensive new research, On Speed describes the ups and downs (fittingly, there are mostly ups) in the history of amphetamines, and their remarkable pervasiveness. For example, at the same time that amphetamines were becoming part of the diet of many GIs in World War II, an amphetamine-abusing counterculture began to flourish among civilians. In the 1950s, psychiatrists and family doctors alike prescribed amphetamines for a wide variety of ailments, from mental disorders to obesity to emotional distress. By the late 1960s, speed had become a fixture in everyday life: up to ten percent of Americans were thought to be using amphetamines at least occasionally. Although their use was regulated in the 1970s, it didn't take long for amphetamines to make a major comeback, with the discovery of Attention Deficit Disorder and the role that one drug in the amphetamine family—Ritalin—could play in treating it. Today’s most popular diet-assistance drugs differ little from the diet pills of years gone by, still speed at their core. And some of our most popular recreational drugs—including the "mellow" drug, Ecstasy—are also amphetamines. Whether we want to admit it or not, writes Rasmussen, we’re still a nation on speed.

Incorporating extensive new research, On Speed describes the ups and downs (fittingly, there are mostly ups) in the history of amphetamines, and their remarkable pervasiveness. For example, at the same time that amphetamines were becoming part of the diet of many GIs in World War II, an amphetamine-abusing counterculture began to flourish among civilians. By the late 1960s, speed had become a fixture in everyday life: more than 7% of Americans were active users of amphetamines.

Although their use was regulated in the 1970s, it didn't take long for amphetamines to make a major comeback, with the discovery of Attention Deficit Disorder and the role that one drug in the amphetamine family-Ritalin-could play in treating it. Today's most popular diet-assistance drugs differ little from the "diet pills" of years gone by, still speed at their core. And some of our most popular recreational drugs-including the supposedly "mellow" drug, Ecstasy-are also amphetamines. Whether we want to admit it or not, writes Rasmussen, we're still a nation on speed.

9780814776018,9780814776278,0814776019,0814776396,9780814776391 New York University Press Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 1 The New Sensation 17 2 Benzedrine: The Making of a Modern Medicine 36 3 Speed and Total War 64 4 Bootleggers, Beatniks, and Benzedrine Benders 116 5 A Bromide for the Atomic Age 142 6 Amphetamine and the Go-Go Years 198 7 Amphetamine’s Decline: From Mental Medicine to Social Disease 231 8 Fast Forward: Still on Speed, 1971 to Today 271 Conclusion: The Lessons of History 304 Notes 310 List of Archival Sources 396 Index 397 About the Author 401