Captagon or phenethylene is a derivative of amphetamine, a chemical stimulant, and was previously used as a treatment under the names Captagon, Biocapton, and Viton. It was first manufactured in 1887 in Germany by chemist Lazar Edeleanu.

Its common names among users are: Datsun - Abu Malif - Malaf Shaqraa - Defne - Qishta - Abu Qusain - Abu Dab

Phenethylline was first synthesized by German Degussa AG in 1961 and has been used for 25 years as a milder alternative to amphetamine and related compounds. , it has been used in the treatment of “children with motor hyperactivity” (what is now referred to as ADHD) and less commonly for narcolepsy and depression. One of the main advantages of phenethylline is that it does not increase blood pressure to the same extent as a similar amphetamine dose and can therefore be used in patients with certain cardiovascular diseases.

Phenethylline was included in the drug schedule in 1981, and its circulation became illegal and criminal after the World Health Organization included it on an international schedule under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. 

Separate investigations by Reuters and Time magazine found that a growing trade in Syrian-made Captagon pills - an amphetamine widely consumed in the Middle East and almost unknown elsewhere - generated millions of dollars in revenue inside the country in 2013, some of which was almost certainly It was used to finance weapons, while fighters on both sides are said to turn to the alarm clock to push them to continue military battles.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Syria has long been a transit point for drugs coming from Europe, Turkey and Lebanon and destined for the wealthy Gulf states. But the collapse of law and order, the destruction of the country's infrastructure and the spread of armed groups have now turned it into a major producer, according to Reuters. Production in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley - a traditional center for the drug - fell by 90% last year compared to 2011, and this decline is largely due to the shift of its production within Syria itself. Captagon, the brand name for the synthetic stimulant phenethylline, was first produced in the 1960s to treat hyperactivity, narcolepsy, and depression, but was banned in most countries in the 1980s as too addictive. It is still very popular in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia alone seizes about 55 million pills annually, perhaps 10% of the total number of people smuggled into the Kingdom.

Signs of Captagon abuse

Drinking too much tea. Heavy smoking. Bad breath. Pale face and lips. Sweating a lot. Excessive movement and talking. Aggression and violence. Red eyes. Constantly scratching the nose due to dryness of the mucous membrane. Heart arrhythmia. Pupil dilation. Memory disorders and weakness. And a state of constant lethargy. Schizophrenia in advanced cases of substance abuse. Diarrhea and vomiting with high blood pressure. Chest pain.

 Harmful effects of Captagon

The addict suffers from visual and auditory hallucinations, senses become disturbed, and he becomes aware of illusions and things that do not exist. Taking Captagon also leads to a state of delusion, whereby the addict feels that there are insects moving on his skin. As well as those who exhibit symptoms similar to cases of schizophrenia or paranoia.

 There is also a feeling of persecution, crying for no reason, and suspicion of others. For example, some drug users suspect their friends of being informants cooperating with drug control, and there are those who suspect their wife of having relationships with others, which causes family and social problems for the drug user.

– With excessive use, a decrease in white blood cells occurs, which weakens resistance to diseases, and anemia also occurs.

– Addiction to amphetamines also leads to the occurrence of malnutrition diseases, and injecting them into a vein in excessive doses causes injuries to the arteries such as inflammation, necrosis, kidney failure, destruction and damage to the blood vessels in the kidney, blockage of the blood vessels of the brain, and bleeding may occur that may lead to death. Inhaling amphetamine irritates the nasal mucous membranes. Hepatitis C, stomach ulcers, and sexual problems, including frigidity or impotence 

– The use of contaminated syringes also leads to the transmission of several serious diseases such as AIDS and viral hepatitis B

One of its harmful effects is that it leads to smoking or smoking a lot if one was a smoker before falling into the clutches of Captagon abuse, and because it increases the effect of Captagon. It also leads to the use of hashish, and because hashish, as a drug, opposes the effect of Captagon, some users use it for the purpose of sleep, as well as resorting to drinking alcohol, as it is common among users that alcohol removes the effect of Captagon from the body, so the user is not identified through analysis.