The Speed User: Social and Psychological Factors in Amphetamine Abuse

Two hundred and eighteen chronic amphetamine users, ranging in age from thirteen to thirty years were interviewed to ascertain if common factors in backgrounds, life styles, and personalities exist. They were divided into six groups based on locale and sex, and important differences were noted. This essentially middle-class phenomenon is extremely destructive to these young people but it was quite obvious that the socio-psychological disturbance in most of them pre-dated the heavy drug use.