Stimulants #
Textbook Definition: Stimulants or ‘stims’ increase or improve mental and/or physical function, often in a pleasure enhancing manner. Manifestations of this can include alertness, wakefulness, focus, and apparent increased energy. As a consequence, stimulants are sometimes referred to as ‘uppers’.
The following chemicals have been sampled and researched for inclusion within this section:
There is more to stimulants than meets the eye, or less metaphorically, the nose. In a previous era, if someone had given me something to stimulate, I would simply have expected to be more awake and alert. After all, by definition shouldn’t stims always increase energy and improve productivity and functionality?
For some highly functional stims, this is exactly what occurs. They improve focus and drive, and allow tasks to be completed with vigour and efficiency. But many stims have certain edges: a hint of euphoria, an empathogenic twist, or an awakened sexual appetite.
Those edges tend to bring joy and pleasure, all experienced on the high octane fuel of the stim itself. They can lead to binges, which can in turn become out of control and run headlong into the danger zone.
The risks associated with misuse of drugs in this class are well documented, with cases of overdose and addiction frequently reported. Increased heart rate and blood pressure can quickly escalate to heart attack, seizure or stroke. Psychosis is also a real threat, and one which should not be underestimated.
Long term use of some of these chemicals comes with a host of potential problems, including respiratory disorders, severe weight loss, gastrointestinal issues, kidney and liver damage, sexual dysfunctionality, tissue breakdown, acute depression, tooth decay, and paranoia.
There are other physical issues to consider too. Loss of appetite can be viewed as positive or negative, but the threat of dehydration is always something to be aware of, and the comedown can be difficult, as can the hangover.
It is always sensible, and strongly recommended, to plan ahead and tread carefully, particularly if larger doses or redosing is being contemplated.
Note also that mixing stims with alcohol is most definitely not a good idea. Research intensively, prior to contemplating any combination.
Be careful.
Stimulants are commonly insufflated, but many are sometimes ingested.
Attention to dosage for your specific RoA is therefore essential.
THE STIM BINGE #
It begins in anticipation of seemingly eternal joy and ends in the curse of guilt and regret. Often, far more often than most non-users imagine, it is co-fuelled by the most carnal of desires and needs, which serve to drive it to even greater heights and subsequent lows.
When interviewed I am sometimes asked why I refer to libido and arousal so brazenly in this book, particularly in this section. The answer is because for so many users it is an intrinsic facet of the experience, for better and for worse. A cursory glance through Internet forums on the subject will confirm the scale, and that it would be wholly remiss to ignore it.
The following Reddit post provides a glimpse into the world of the stim-binge addict:
“Just like a romance, a stim binge starts so optimistically, every second is perfect, with so many perfect seconds to come. Then the realization that much time has actually passed, with little notice, or recollection of what exactly filled the time, and all you know is that it was happy time, and dreamily surrender to your most basic desires, the customary shame that accompanies the fulfilment of these desires is absent, you are psychologically shielded from any thoughts that may disturb your impossibly content state of mind, except one nagging thought does occasionally sneak in and remind you that time is passing, and this bliss cannot last forever. You try to prolong your special state, use any pretext you can find to convince yourself that you deserve just a little longer before going back. Your former euphoria is now greatly diminished by the mental (sleep) and physical (food) requirements that you have been ignoring all this time. Your medicine is weaker, and tastes worse, and the thought of the approaching end of the holiday itself ends the holiday. Goodbye lover, until next time. I will remember this feeling, but curiously forget every other specific detail of how 72 hours was spent. “Fuuuuucck 72 hours !? Kill me. Why is my crotch sore?”, and other unwelcome observations in succession. The optimism that began the run is vanished completely, replaced with the equally thought dominating consequences of what suddenly seems like a bad trade, a regret, a lesson to not do this again. But in a few days, your desire for another little vacation begins to return at the precise rate that your recollection of the aftermath fades away. The cycle of escapism spins round like a pookie, or some more poetic simile.”
~ Rhinestonecowboyaway, Reddit
And so it goes, binge-to-binge.
Because the above comment is cleverly written it provokes a smile, dark humour. Really though, it isn’t funny at all, and it definitely isn’t where you want to be. You have a life to live, the pleasure from which shouldn’t be driven by a drug which will slowly but surely lead to your physical and mental deterioration.
If you are going to take any of these drugs love ‘em and leave ‘em. Don’t return in the short term, if ever. If you allow them to become routine or your primary source of pleasure in life, you will be in serious peril, and you may not escape it.