Texas Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck Drivers and Amphetamines: Avoidable Tragedies

Amphetamines are a class of drugs known for giving those who take them increased energy and an overall “up” feeling. The first synthetic amphetamine was created in Germany in 1887. Since then, doctors studying this drug have learned that it works by increasing levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain: the same hormones that some anti-depressive medications target.

Amphetamines do have some legitimate uses; for example, most medications prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are actually mild amphetamines. They are also a common treatment for narcolepsy, and are sometimes used to supplement other forms of treatment for chronically depressed patients. When used properly, amphetamines usually have mild side effects and can really help people.

Unfortunately, when abused, the side effects of these drugs can be severe. Sometimes people take these drugs for “benefits” such as decreased need for sleep, euphoria, increased alertness and concentration, and a feeling of superiority. When abused, however, the same drugs can cause have almost the opposite effects, creating depression, anxiety, aggression, and difficulty focusing on one train of thought. It is all too easy to become addicted to this class of drug. Withdrawal symptoms can include extreme fatigue, agitation, depression and even psychosis and suicidal thoughts.

Sadly, abuse of amphetamines by commercial truck drivers has become all too common. Because they face so much pressure to drive long distances in short amounts of time, many truck drivers wish to avoid taking time off for sleeping whenever they can. At first, amphetamines seem to offer a way to drive through the night without becoming too sleepy to focus on the road – an attractive proposal. But in the long, the side effects of the drug and problems caused by addiction only increase the odds of a serious truck accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a truck driver under the influence of illegal drugs, contact Texas truck accident lawyers Williams Kherkher at 800-220-9341.