Club Drugs

Club drugs are increasingly being used by teens and young adults at nightclubs, bars, raves and trances. Raves and trances are all-night dance parties, conducted at warehouses and other locations, where club drugs may be used by some of the partygoers. Not all who go to raves and dance parties use club drugs, but those who do say that they enhance the experience.

The downside of club drugs, however, is that they can cause serious health problems and even death, especially when used in conjunction with alcohol. Ecstasy, Rohypnol, Ketamine, GHB, Methamphetamines and LSD are the most common club drugs on the scene. Rohypnol is also known as the "date rape" drug and has been implicated in many sexual assaults over the past 5 years.

Many teens and young adults are attracted to the club drugs because of the euphoria one may feel when at first taking the substances. Most club drugs are also easy to obtain and cost little compared to other illegal substances.

Ecstasy (MDMA) is perhaps the most famous of the club drugs, which is both a stimulant and a hallucinogenic. XTC, as it is often referred, is a "hug drug" that loosens inhibitions and gives a feeling of temporary wellbeing, energy, empathy and openness. Ecstasy was legal in the United States before May 31, 1985 as it was used as a designer recreational drug and sometimes in psychotherapeutic settings.

The health issues associated with the club drug XTC are primarily the body's inability to regulate temperature. This can lead to kidney, liver and cardiovascular system failure. Also, users may either drink too much or too little water while taking the club drug, which in some cases can even cause death. Long-term use of Ecstasy can cause brain impairment, memory loss, sleep disorders and the inability to regulate emotion or pain.

The club drug Rohypnol is in the class of benzodiazepines and when mixed with alcohol can render a victim helpless to resist sexual assault. Rohypnol, which can easily and undetectably be slipped into drinks, can also cause amnesia in the victims so that they may not remember being assaulted.

Ketamine as a club drug is also known as "Special K" and is an anesthetic primarily used by veterinarians. Small amounts of this club drug results in loss of attention span and memory. Larger doses of the club drug may result in depression, severe breathing problems and high blood pressure.

The club drug GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate) may be made in one's home using common ingredients. Low doses may cause mild relaxation, while higher doses may cause coma or death. GHB was used in the 1980's and early 1990's, over-the-counter by body builders to reduce fat and gain muscle mass.

Methamphetamines have gained steam in recent years as a club drug even though they don't have the sedating effects of many of the other club drugs. Methamphetamines can cause violent and psychotic behavior, memory loss and heart problems.

LSD is a psychedelic club drug that has also made a resurgence lately. LSD first gained momentum in the Timothy Leary 1960's era with free love and the Vietnam War raging. In 1967, LSD was outlawed in the U. S. and underground and recreational use ensued. As a club drug, LSD effects can be seen evoking unpredictable behavior in the user, increased heart rate, sleeplessness, flashbacks and "bad trips" and even psychosis.

Though club drugs may be popular with some teen and young adults in party situations, they also pose real and life-threatening health risks. At an age when many youth may feel invincible, feeling the negative effects of club drugs may come as a shock as true human vulnerabilities to taking illicit substances are exposed and brought to light.