By affecting basic brain functions, amphetamine may expose experimenting teenagers to an increased risk of heart attack if they re-use the drug later in life.
As well as activating the brain`s reward system, which is involved in addiction, amphetamine also affects brain regions that control heartbeat, blood pressure and temperature.
Although many teenagers experiment with drugs, most don`t become regular users but may try the drug later again as adults. A teenager`s early experimentation might be minor, but it can still have a damaging effect on their developing brain.