Amphetamine tablets are extremely popular in Asia

Amphetamine sure, but captagon is a more complicated molecule without any real extra benefit. Théophyllines are meh unless you’re nearly dying of lung disease.

However, Wikipedia reports:

“ Many of these counterfeit "Captagon" tablets actually contain other amphetamine derivatives that are easier to produce, but are pressed and stamped to look like Captagon pills.”

which makes a lot more sense if the chemistry is being done in Syria.

Yes but Captagon is not. How did it become so popular in the middle east and north africa?

>Yes but Captagon is not. How did it become so popular in the middle east and north africa?

I remember reports about it being popular with IS and Al Qaeda fighters as a combat drug: reduced anxiety, increased stamina and the forming addiction can be used as a tool to keep the fighters in line.

I am going to guess and say they are probably pressed amphetamine made to look like Captagon

Availability is usually the answer. Lots of overland routes available where it’s popular/legal/cheap within the Middle East.

Though the APIs probably originate from China so you’d think more “western” choices would be made.

Presumably the party culture had been adopted from EU/USA.

> Though the APIs probably originate from China

What does API stand for in this context?

It stands for active pharmaceutical ingredient. Meaning the actual drug in a complete pill. Many pills are mostly non-active ingredients because a pill containing e.g. 10 mg of API would be inconveniently tiny if the pill itself was only 10 mg.

Obscure? Isn't this the drug that ISIL feeds its "soldiers"?