Clinically Reviewed by Daniel JimmersonLPCC, CADC.
Before even getting into the many bricks in the wall that separates speed from meth, let’s figure out the terminology. We are dealing with two similar drugs: amphetamine and methamphetamine. For obvious reasons, meth equals methamphetamine. And so that means speed refers to amphetamine. The difference between speed and meth comes down to potency and chemical structure. And spoiler alert here: meth is more potent.
Amphetamines
Let’s start with the “lesser” of the evils. These have been around for ages. They treat conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy. We say lesser with a heavy caution. Speed typically refers to prescription medications or derivative forms. For some psychological reason, it makes us think they are safe. Here are a couple of examples.
- Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) for ADHD and narcolepsy
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) for ADHD and binge-eating disorder
- Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) for ADHD and narcolepsy
When used according to their prescription, these meds are helpful. A person with ADHD can focus better, and someone with narcolepsy can function without feeling like they are constantly in a daze.
However, when these drugs are abused—taken in higher doses, without a prescription, or recreationally—they are referred to as “speed.”
And the dangers are there just like any illicit simulant on the street.
Methamphetamines
Meth is the illicit street-manufactured drug. It also goes by the names “crystal meth,” “ice,” or “crank.” And yes, it’s the star of the Breaking Bad series. Typically cooked in makeshift labs (from cold medicines) mixed with toxic substances like battery acid or drain cleaner.
Amphetamines have been around for decades used to treat conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy. Meth, however, is the renegade. While there’s a legal form (methamphetamine hydrochloride, marketed as Desoxyn for ADHD and obesity), most of what you hear about meth comes from its illicit, street-manufactured form, a drug with devastating consequences.
If amphetamine is like caffeine on a strong espresso day, meth is like caffeine crossed with rocket fuel—and neither belongs anywhere near your bloodstream without medical supervision.
What Do Speed and Meth Actually Do?
It starts with dopamine. It’s the brain saying, “Wow, that felt amazing, let’s do it again!” Both speed and meth flood your brain with it. This dopamine rush makes people feel hyper-focused, super confident, and full of energy, even if they’re just organizing their vegetable garden or cleaning the oven in the kitchen.
But here’s where things split.
- Speed (amphetamine): You may have heard of some prescription drugs that can help with ADHD, such as Adderall. They can help people focus and have more energy when used as prescribed. But when abused, they become more like a machine you can’t turn off. Right now becomes the time to take care of just about anything in their life.
- Meth (methamphetamine): Meth takes things a bit deeper. There is a definite high, and it’s more intense and comes quicker. It also burns out quickly. This means that users tend to want more almost immediately. It is a fast, frightening drug that catches people by surprise and quickly takes the wheel of their lives.
Side Effects
If amphetamines had a label, it would say something like:
“May cause bursts of productivity, occasional paranoia, and a creeping feeling that someone is watching you.”
Long-term abuse can lead to anxiety, heart problems, and such extreme sleep deprivation that people start seeing things that aren’t there.
Meth, on the other hand, takes all those risks and dials them up to the extreme:
- “Meth mouth” (rotting teeth)
- Skin picking (because of hallucinations that bugs are crawling under the skin)
- Permanent brain damage (because meth fries the circuits that control pleasure)
At some point, even basic joys—like music, good food, or laughter—stop feeling good. The brain basically forgets how to be happy without the drug.
So What’s the Difference Between Speed and Meth?
A lot of this comes down to strength or potency, how it’s made, and where it is obtained.
- Speed (amphetamines in prescription form) is made in clean, regulated labs.
- Meth is usually cooked in sketchy places using toxic chemicals that should never go into the human body.
Basically, if amphetamine is a controlled burn, meth is an out-of-control wildfire.
Is Speed “Safer” Than Meth?
Imagine you had to jump out of a plane. Is it safer to jump from 10,000 feet without a parachute or 20,000 feet? Doesn’t matter—you’re still crashing.
Meth is way more dangerous, but speed isn’t exactly safe. It’s the difference between slowly sliding into addiction or free-falling into it. Either way, the bottom is still there.
How Do You Treat Addiction to Speed or Meth?
Quitting isn’t just about willpower. These drugs rewire the brain, so recovery takes time and the right kind of help.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Helps ease withdrawal symptoms.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Teaches the brain new ways to handle stress.
- Contingency Management: Rewards positive behavior because the brain loves incentives.
- Community Support: Because addiction isn’t just about chemistry—it’s about feeling lost, alone, and searching for relief in the wrong places.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with either of these drugs, there’s always hope. No matter how many times someone has tried and failed, recovery is still possible. The brain can heal. And life can feel good again—without meth or speed.
Need help? Reach out to us here at Peninsula Health Center in Palos Verdes, CA. Our outpatient program is ideal for anyone looking to be free from the chains of addiction with the flexibility to still maintain your life. Call now: 866-934-8228.
Clinically Reviewed by Daniel Jimmerson LPCC, CADC. Daniel is a licensed psychotherapist in Arizona and California, with a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health from the University of the Cumberlands.
Daniel brings over a decade of first-hand experience in the treatment of mood disorders, substance addictions, and trauma therapy, and a trained and experienced clinician in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT). While serving as the clinical director for Peninsula Health Group in Los Angeles County, Daniel simultaneously runs a depression and addictions-focused private practice in Arizona. Linkedin
