Thread: For those who know stuff about narcotics, preferably amphetamines

A character in my book knows who took his daughter and is trying to find them. He goes nearly 40 hours without sleeping or even resting, and is running out of steam. His brother gives him a drug to get him going again. What would be the best thing? Coke? Amphetamines?

Also, my character is 30 years old and has never had any kind of drugs besides anti-biotics and over the counter medicine for colds and headaches. He drinks alcohol occasionally and never drank coffee or sodas. This would be first stimulant he's ever put in his body. How do you think his body would react? Would it be feasible that he'd go into a mild rage. Or, when he's pointing a gun at someone to threaten him, accidentally have a muscle spasm and pull the trigger?

Trouble with slang names is they vary in their meaning ash, over here speed and amphetamine are the same thing and ice is simply a very pure form of methamphetamine.
People with practical knowledge of these sort of drugs very often have little or no idea of what they are actually taking, the dealer will say "Amphetamine sulphate" because he knows what they have heard of and think they want, they could be getting a sulphate, unlikely , or a chloride of amphetamine, dexadrine, benzadrine or any one of several drugs with similar effects, I shouldn't worry too much, simply call it "speed" or "whizz" and the users will adjust to their own experience.
The sorts of reaction that would make him pull a gun and use it usually come with extended use, I'd go for the nervous reaction, the main effect normally for a first time user would be to talk him to death. but the 40 hours up previously would be affecting him, he would be jumpy and paranoid, possibly hallucinating a bit.
Remember if your character is a novice his reactions may vary from those of the people you are asking to reply, experience helps you cope with things.

I agree with Olly. I have never done drugs, a Percocet makes me sleep for 12 hours!
One time, years ago, I took a pill my truckdriver husband gave me before a long trip. I would have to drive 500 miles and didn't think I could stay awake that long.
Anyway, I didn't fall asleep, but I was nervous as a cat, my perception was a little off (I ran over a curb - didn't even see it), and I didn't sleep for 2 days even though I was so tired I was numb.
So, yes, if you're not used to taking drugs, a little speed goes a long way.

Originally Posted by StephenP2003

A character in my book knows who took his daughter and is trying to find them. He goes nearly 40 hours without sleeping or even resting, and is running out of steam. His brother gives him a drug to get him going again. What would be the best thing? Coke? Amphetamines?


... Or, when he's pointing a gun at someone to threaten him, accidentally have a muscle spasm and pull the trigger?

Is that possible? I don't know. Maybe. Is it plausible? Definitely.

I'm a great believer in 'write what you know'. If you want to write it ell, go out and score some speed, take it, and see what happens. At least you'll be writing for a similar POV as your character.

If you don't want to do that, then you can just bluff it based on other people's say-so, but it'll never be the best you can do!

Originally Posted by Vincent Santa Cruz

I'm a great believer in 'write what you know'. If you want to write it ell, go out and score some speed, take it, and see what happens. At least you'll be writing for a similar POV as your character.

If you don't want to do that, then you can just bluff it based on other people's say-so, but it'll never be the best you can do!

Fiirstly, what you write may be a bit over long and not very sensible afterwards
Secondly, don't research the bit about the gun, in case.