Amphetamines

History

Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887, by the German chemist L. Edeleano and first marketed in the 1930s as Benzedrine. Because the drugs increase energy levels and suppress appetite, they were widely used by states during World War 2 to give a ‘boost’ to service personnel, and in the 1950s and 60's as slimming aids. They are now prescribed to those suffering narcolepsy and, especially in the US, to children diagnosed with ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’. British troops used 72 million amphetamine tablets in the Second World War and ATS (Amphetamine Type Stimulants) are still widely used in the military. The bombing raids over Iraq, in the Gulf war were, allegedly undertaken by many pilots using the drug to increase endurance. Many famous writers have used amphetamines for inspiration and the history of thought and literature and music  in the 20th century would be quite different without their influence.