Science of Drugs with Richard Roxburgh: Aug 30

This week on the Science of Drugs with Richard Roxburgh stimulants may enhance performance at low doses, but under certain conditions these drugs can turn lethal.

Caffeine is the world’s most widely used recreational drugs. In the western world, more than 80% of the population indulges in a daily cup. It’s considered to be one of the most benign stimulants – able to enhance performance and wakefulness, providing a much-loved morning pick-up. Energy drinks contain no more caffeine than an espresso, yet they are considered a danger to public health, with the consumption of just one or two caffeinated beverages linked to sudden heart arrhythmias and death. What’s different about energy drinks and how do they change our cardiovascular function?

Cocaine is a much more potent stimulant – and considered more addictive because of its powerful hit to the reward centre of the brain. Its energising rush fades in as little as 15 minutes, leaving the user wanting more. But each extra line carries the risk of heart attack, or stroke. Recent evidence suggests even occasional, social use can cause irreversible damage to the cardiovascular system, aging the heart and vessels prematurely. The news may come as a surprise to ‘weekend warriors’ who live healthy during the week and party hard on the weekend.

Amphetamines have a long and fascinating history, from the first Benzedrine inhalers to clear nasal decongestion, to their prominent role in the second world war, giving German Stuka pilots the courage and stamina for their surprise attacks on allied forces. Both amphetamine and methamphetamine competed for the patient base back home, prescribed for a variety of treatments from weight loss to attention and mood enhancement. As addicts began to inject methamphetamine the drug was banned in the 1970s – before a new crystal, smokable form of the drug hit the streets.

Crystal Methamphetamine raises the stakes even higher. As a long-lasting and powerful stimulant, “ice” can keep dopamine levels raised for more than 12 hours. The overstimulation of our brain’s reward centre comes with serious risk – motivational cues can tip into paranoia and psychosis, causing the user to make associations that aren’t there. With a tendency to feel threatened and agitated, methamphetamine users are known to become enraged and violent towards emergency workers and paramedics. And because it keeps users awake and raging for days, other aspects of personal hygiene, such as dental care, sleep and nutrition are neglected, leading to a variety of damaging health conditions and rapid ageing.

Two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll tells the powerful cautionary tale of how he became hooked on the drug and how he ultimately found a way back from addiction.

9:30pm Tuesday on ABC.