ABSTRACT
The sporadic use of amphetamines reflects the competition and availability of other drugs of abuse, the desires of the particular socioeconomic group interested in the substance, and the efforts of law enforcement to eliminate the accessibility of any particular substance of abuse. The amphetamines made their appearance for use in weight reduction and control of obesity. The homeostatic regulation of central and peripheral autonomic function is mediated principally through the actions of the sympathetic nervous system and moderated through the opposing effects of the parasympathetic system. Amphetamines and their derivatives are indirect agonists that mimic the actions of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The agents either stimulate the release of, or block the reuptake of, naturally occurring sympathomimetics. The central, peripheral, and parasympathetic nervous systems, as well as cardiovascular and smooth muscle, display initial signs of stimulation followed by depression. This characteristic is presumably due to selective depression of inhibitory neurons as well as inhibition of general neuronal activity in these areas.
