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What are "Club drugs"?
"Club drugs" refers to a collection of illicit drugs that are most commonly encountered at nightclubs and raves. They produce a wide variety of effects on the body.
What are the most common club drugs today?
The club drugs most commonly encountered in nightclubs and raves are Ecstasy (MDMA), Ketamine, Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxy Butyric Acid (GHB), LSD, PCP, and methamphetamines (e.g., speed).
What is ecstasy?
Ecstasy, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Its chemical structure is similar to methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine, and mescaline (found in peyote).
How is ecstasy used?
Ecstasy can be ingested, snorted, smoked, or injected. If ingested, its effects take about 45 minutes to manifest and last about 8 hours. If snorted, smoked, or injected, the effects occur more rapidly but do not last as long. However, the intensity of the mental effects during this "high" is greater than if ingested.
What does ecstasy do?
Ecstasy tends to reduce inhibitions and produce feelings of empathy for others. It also eliminates anxiety and causes extreme relaxation. The hallucinogenic properties of ecstasy also induce an enhancement and distortion of the senses.
What are the side effects of ecstasy use?
Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, and chills or sweating may occur with ecstasy use. It also purportedly suppresses the need to eat, drink, or sleep. Because ecstasy is neurotoxic, in high doses it can sharply increase body temperature, leading to muscle breakdown and kidney and cardiovascular system failure. It also destroys both dopamine and serotonin cells in the brain. Psychological difficulties may also result, often lasting up to weeks after drug use. These difficulties include confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, and depression.
What are some common street names for ecstasy?
Ecstasy is often referred to as MDMA, X, XTC, hug drug, love drug, rolls, and beans.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a general dissociative anesthetic primarily used in veterinary practices. It has gained popularity among the clubbing crowd in the last 5-10 years. Ketamine shares hallucinogenic properties with PCP and LSD, with physical effects similar to those caused by PCP and hallucinogenic effects similar to those caused by LSD.
How is ketamine used?
Ketamine comes in a liquid form that can be injected, mixed into drinks, or added to smokable materials. It can also be obtained as a powder that can be snorted, smoked, or mixed into drinks. Most people snort small lines, or "bumps", for a mild, dreamy effect that comes on about 5 to 10 minutes after inhalation. These low doses increase heart rate. At higher doses, ketamine depresses consciousness and breathing. The ketamine "trip" generally lasts an hour or less, but it can go on for 4 to 6 hours.
How does ketamine work?
Ketamine generally stops the user from feeling pain, may relieve tension and anxiety, intensifies colors and sounds, and is purported to be a sexual stimulant. At lower doses, it has a mild dreamy feeling similar to nitrous oxide. It causes the user to feel "floaty" and slightly outside his body, with a numbness in the extremities. Users taking a low dose often refer to their experience as "K-land", a mellow, colorful wonderland, while users taking a higher dose often refer to their experience as a "K-hole", or an out of body or near death experience, most likely because at higher doses, ketamine has a more hallucinogenic effect.
What are ketamine's side effects?
Using ketamine can cause amnesia, depression, long-term memory and cognitive difficulties, and respiratory problems. Other side effects may include numbness, lack of coordination, sense of invulnerability, muscle rigidity, aggressive/violent behavior, slurred or blocked speech, an exaggerated sense of strength and/or a blank stare. Continued ketamine use can result in tremendous psychological dependence, while frequent use can cause disruptions in consciousness and lead to neuroses or other mental disorders.
What are some common street names for ketamine?
Street names for ketamine include Special K, Vitamin K, and K.
What is Rohypnol?
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), or "roofies" as it is often called, is a benzodiazepine 10 times more potent that Valium. While illegal in the U.S, this central nervous system depressant is available by prescription in certain countries for the short-term treatment of sleep disorders and is the most widely prescribed sedative in Europe.
How is Rohypnol used?
Rohypnol is usually taken orally, but it can be ground into a powder or snorted. Because it is tasteless and odorless, it is easily slipped into drinks. Rohypnol is often taken with alcohol or marijuana to increase intoxication. Because of its amnesiac qualities and its ability to go undetected, Rohypnol has gained a reputation for being a popular date rate drug.
How does Rohypnol work?
The sedative effects of Rohypnol begin to appear approximately 15 to 20 minutes after ingestion. The effects generally last 4 to 6 hours, but they have been known to last for 12 hours or more in certain individuals. General effects include slowing of psychomotor performance, muscle relaxation, decreased blood pressure, sleepiness, and amnesia. Lower doses generally cause muscle relaxation and can produce general sedative and hypnotic effects. Higher doses can cause loss of muscle control, loss of conscious, and/or amnesia.
What are the side effects of Rohypnol?
Side effects may include drowsiness, headaches, memory loss, dizziness, nightmares, and tremors.
What are some common street names for Rohypnol?
Street names for Rohypnol may include date rape drug, ruffies, roofies, rohpies, roche, R-2, or rib rope.
What is GHB?
GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate acid) is a fast-acting central nervous system depressant. Though obtainable in powder and capsule form, GHB is usually available as an odorless, colorless, and nearly tasteless liquid.
How does GHB work?
The effects of GHB are usually felt 10 to 60 minutes after ingestion. The primary effects last about 2 to 3 hours, but the residual effects of GHB can last up to a whole day. At small doses, GHB encourages a reduction of social inhibitions, an intensification of feelings of intoxication (similar to the effects of alcohol), and an increased libido. At higher doses, this euphoria gives way to sedation.
What are the side effects of GHB use?
GHB slows breathing and heart rate. Combining GHB with alcohol exacerbates these effects, and the result can be deadly. Side effects may include vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo and seizures. At high doses, GHB can also cause muscle spasms and unconsciousness.
What are some common street names for GHB?
Common street names for GHB include battery acid, Grievous Bodily Harm, Georgia Home Boy, liquid X, or liquid G.
