Different drug classes affect the body in different ways. Uppers is slang for the stimulant drug class. They make people feel more awake and alert. Understanding more about uppers can make them safer to use!

What kinds of drugs are uppers?

There are lots of different types of uppers, common ones include:

• Caffeine: Caffeine is a very common upper. It’s sometimes sold as a powder or in pills. Usually, though, caffeine is in foods and drinks like coffee, tea, energy drinks, some sodas, chocolate, and more. Most stores that sell food, sell some form of caffeine.
• Nicotine: Nicotine is also very common. It’s in cigarettes and products like gum, patches, oral pouches, and vapes. Often people use nicotine products to help them quit smoking cigarettes, but they are also used recreationally.
• Amphetamines: Amphetamines come in many forms. They are prescribed to treat ADHD and narcolepsy because they help to keep people focused and alert. Other forms like speed and crystal meth are sold illegally. These can come in many forms like crystals, pills, or powder. They are often smoked, injected, or swallowed.
• Cocaine: Cocaine is an upper that is made from the leaves of the coca bush. It generally comes in either powder or crystal forms. It is usually snorted or smoked. Some Indigenous peoples in South America chew on coca leaves as part of their traditional practices. It’s important to note that coca leaves and cocaine are not the same.

Caffeine, nicotine, and prescribed amphetamines are legal, but other types of uppers are illegal to take without a prescription. People still use them recreationally though.

What do uppers feel like?

Different types of uppers can have different feelings, and everyone’s body is different. But, there are some common effects across uppers as a drug class.

Uppers work by speeding up how fast your brain sends and receives messages. That can make people feel more awake, alert, focused, and talkative. People sometimes describe the effects of uppers as feelings of well-being, euphoria, or an adrenaline rush. Some people take them, either by prescription or recreationally, because they help with symptoms of ADHD.

Uppers can also have side effects like high a high heart rate, high blood pressure, dizziness, and a general feeling of being shaky or weak. Taking higher doses can also lead to feelings of anxiety, overheating, nausea, breathing problems, and irregular heartbeat. Once the effects of the high fade, also called ‘coming down,’ some people experience things like irritability, trouble sleeping, and paranoia. This varies a lot depending on the type of upper used.

Uppers have the potential to be addictive. That means that when someone uses them regularly for a long period of time, their body gets used to the drug. Then, if they stop taking the drug, they could have withdrawal symptoms, like anxiety, heart irregularities, and more. This potential for addiction is part of why uppers are regulated.

Are uppers dangerous?

Uppers can be dangerous, especially when taken in large amounts, or in combination with other drugs. But, they’re not always dangerous. It’s possible to take uppers safely under medical supervision, and to lower the risk when using them recreationally.

One risk of using uppers is addiction or dependency. These can be dangerous because they lead to long-term, regular use of uppers, which can cause the person using them to build up a tolerance to the drugs’ effects. When someone builds up a tolerance, they need to take higher doses of the drug in order to get the results they want or need. Taking larger amounts of uppers can raise someone’s risk for overdose, which can be fatal.

When uppers speed up the signals between the body and the brain, they put the brain and body under a lot of stress. So, long-term stimulant use can lead to paranoia, confusion, decreased sexual function, aggression, tooth decay, and sores. Withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person, but can include slowed heart rate, anxiety, chills, fatigue, body aches, and hallucinations. This can happen when someone stops long-term upper use. While upper withdrawal symptoms aren’t usually life-threatening, they can be. Having medical supervision during withdrawal can help to lower the risks.

Mixing uppers and downers can also be risky. This can make it easier to overdose, and cause or worsen heart irregularities.

How can someone lower the risks while taking uppers?

There are many ways to lower the risk when taking uppers.

If you think you may be taking too much, you can consider using less, not using, or talking to a doctor or nurse about ways to manage withdrawal. You can decide how much or how little you want use and ask a trusted person to remind you of your limit. Healthcare professionals are bound by patient confidentiality, so you won’t get in trouble for telling them if you’re using uppers without a prescription. Their main priority is your health!

There are also ways to keep using uppers, but use them more safely. Uppers can be taken orally, and some can also be smoked, snorted, or injected. Taking them orally is generally the safest way to use them. Smoking and snorting both have some risk, and injecting is the riskiest way of taking them. If you’re injecting uppers, using clean needles and/or finding a safe injection site in your city can help to lower the risks.

Taking care of the body is also helpful when using any kinds of drugs! Uppers can decrease peoples’ appetites, so eating nutritious foods and drinking enough water can help you recover from tiredness after using them.

For information on drug checking, check out our FAQ! You can also contact our sister program, Kontak, for free harm reduction supplies in the greater Montreal area.