High Speed: Amphetamine Use in the Context of Conventional Culture

While the use of cannabis is often anchored in subversive values, and the use of heroin is situated at the social margins, the use of amphetamines appears to be associated with more conventional values. Interviews with 55 Norwegian amphetamine and/or methamphetamine users reveal that the substance is used for three main reasons. First, amphetamines are used by binge drinkers to "keep the party going." Second, amphetamines are used by segments of the marginalized working class to enable them to work longer hours. Third, amphetamines are used medically by some to treat self-diagnosed symptoms of illnesses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).