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First Stimulants
Roman Chemist, Lazar Edeleanu, created amphetamine in 1887. He found that the molecular formula is C9 H13 N. -
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First Stimulant Epidemic
The first epidemic of amphetamines occurred in 1927. There were 25,000,000 to 35,000,000 people who were addicted to amphetamines. From 1927- 1960 was when the drugs were the most widespread they have ever been.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2377281/ -
Methamphetamines in WWII
During WWII, Hitler distributed millions of a pill form of crystal meth, called Pervitin. They used Pervitin to help the troops invade France in 1940. Pervitin was first tested on 90 college students. They decided that it would help them win the war. The soldiers could go days without sleeping and march many more miles without resting.
https://www.history.com/news/inside-the-drug-use-that-fueled-nazi-germany -
Natural Stimulants
Methcathinone was originally used as an appetite suppressant. It is structurally related to amphetamine and cathinone. It is a stimulant that is found in nature.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/289007-overview -
Stimulants Today
In 2016, approximately 5 million people abused stimulants to get high. Many people take stimulants that are prescribed to them, such as Adderall. There is a lot of good that can come from using stimulants, but there is also a lot of people that abuse them and become addicted.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2018/04/five-million-american-adults-misusing-prescription-stimulants
