Club Drugs & Predatory Drugs
GHB | Methamphetamine
| Ketamine | Rohypnol | LSD | MDMA (Ecstasy)
| Nitrous Oxide
At today's dance clubs and all-night parties, or raves, more and more people are
being exposed to club and/or predatory drugs. A lot of people think these drugs are harmless, but
they can cause serious mental and physical problems -- and sometimes death.
There are plenty of reasons to stay away from club and predatory
drugs. First of all, there is not way to know what some of the drugs actually are. Drug
dealers and makers are not exactly world-class chemists, and the
"labs" they use can range from sleazy hotel rooms to someone's
junked-up garage -- not sanitary. Another reason to stay smart and stay away
from club drugs is the dosage and concentration of these drugs are completely
unknown. Plus, combining club and predatory drugs with alcohol and other mood-altering
substances, as users often do, creates even greater risk.
Club and predatory drugs are also addictive. People who use GHB, for example,
report detoxification symptoms after they stop using, repeated use in spite of
unpleasant occurrences while they were on the drug, and great difficulty in not
using again. Similarly, users of Ecstasy experience withdrawal symptoms and a
renewed craving for the drug after those symptoms have passed.
So what are the risks? When you use these drugs you open
yourself to potential date-rape situations and other risky activities, such as
increased drug use, unpredictable behavior and unprotected sex. In short, using drugs,
any kind, is just not smart.
There is a lot of misinformation being circulated about club and
predatory drugs, especially on the Internet. The truth is that these drugs are illegal,
harmful substances, and using them with the belief they cannot hurt you makes
them even more dangerous.
The best thing that you can do is to make healthy, informed
decisions about your life. Don't give in to peer pressure, think for yourself,
and know the facts about the dangers of club and predatory drugs.
If you or someone you know if having problems with drugs,
there are people and places ready to help. Resources available include school
counselors, members of the clergy, your local chapter of Narcotics Anonymous,
rape-counseling centers, hospital substance-abuse programs and private
practitioners specializing in addiction medicine.
For more information:
-
In Maricopa County contact Community Information and
Referral at (602) 263-8856 or 1-800-352-3792 for a variety of resources and
substance-abuse programs.
-
National Institute on Drug Abuse Club Drugs Initiative --
www.clubdrugs.org/.
-
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information --
1-800-729-6686.
-
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) --
1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Slang Terms: Grievous
Bodily Harm, G, Liquid Ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy
Chemical Structure/Action:
Neurotransmitter-like substance that inhibits the release
of dopamine in the brain.
Form: Clear
liquid, white powder, tablets, or capsules taken orally.
Physical Effects:
Central nervous system depressant that can relax or sedate the body, and slow
breathing and heart rate to dangerous levels at higher doses. Often used in
combination with alcohol and used as a "date rape" drug.
Psychological Effects:
Has intoxicant, sedative and euphoriant effects that begin with 10 to 20 minutes
of the drug being taken.
Overdose Effects: Drowsiness,
nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, loss of reflexes, impaired
breathing and death.
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Slang Terms:
Speed, Ice, Chalk, Meth, Crystal, Crank, Fire, Glass
Chemical Structure/Action:
Synthetic amphetamine that stimulates the central nervous system; similar to
MDMA.
Form:
Pills, capsules, powder or chunks that can be ingested, snorted, injected or
smoked.
Physical Effects:
Increased heart rate, convulsions, extreme rise in body temperature (as high as
a potentially fatal 108 degrees), uncontrollable movements, insomnia, impaired
speech, dry and itchy skin, loss of appetite, acne and sores, and numbness.
Psychological Effects:
Excessive excitation, irritability, anxiety, panic, false
sense of confidence and power, psychotic and violent behavior, and severe
depression.
Effects of Long-Term Use:
Addiction, kidney and lung disorders, brain damage,
hallucinations, behavior resembling paranoid schizophrenia, permanent
psychological problems, weight loss and malnutrition, lowered resistance to
illness, liver damage, stroke, and death.
Overdose Effects:
Agitation, increase in body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions, stroke and
heart attack.
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Slang Terms:
K, Special K, Vitamin K, Cat Valium, Cat Tranquilizer
Chemical Structure/Action:
Human and animal anesthetic that is chemically similar to the hallucinogen
phencyclidine (PCP).
Form:
Liquid or white powder that is snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco;
injection into muscles also reported in some cities.
Physical Effects: Impaired
motor function, high blood pressure and respiratory problems.
Psychological Effects:
Dream-like states, hallucinations and depression.
Overdose Effects:
Delirium, amnesia, and death from respiratory depression.
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Slang Terms:
Roofies, Rophies, Roche, Forget-Me Pill
Chemical Structure/Action:
Belongs to a class of prescription drugs known as
benzodiazepines (Valium, Halcion, Xanax, etc.); not approved for use in the
United States.
Form: White
tablet that dissolves easily in carbonated beverages; also ground up for
snorting.
Physical Effects: Sedation
and intoxication, decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances,
dizziness, confusion, gastrointestinal disturbances and urinary retention.
Psychological Effects:
Can cause inability to remember events that happened while one was under the
influence of the drug; this property contributes to Rohypnol's popularity as a
"date rape" drug.
Overdose Effects: Central
nervous system depression that manifests in drowsiness, mental confusion and
lethargy, coma and possibly death (more likely when Rohypnol is used in
combination with alcohol).
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Slang Terms: Acid,
Boomer, Yellow Sunshines
Chemical Structure/Action:
Similar in structure to serotonin; hallucinogen that produces radical changes to
mental state by affecting the brainstem.
Form:
Tablet, capsule or liquid, or on small pieces of blotter paper to take orally.
Physical Effects:
Dilated pupils, increased body temperature, increased blood pressure and heart
rate, sweating, loss of appetite, dry mouth, sleeplessness, tremors, numbness,
weakness and nausea.
Psychological Effects:
Abnormalities in sensory perceptions (effects vary
according to the amount taken, the user's surroundings, and his or her
personality, mood and expectations.)
Effects of Long-Term Use: Persistent psychosis and
flashbacks.
Overdose Effects: Longer
and more intense trip, psychosis and possible death.
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Slang Terms: Ecstasy,
XTC, X, Adam, Clarity, Lover's Speed, the Hug Drug, Rolls, the Love Drug
Chemical Structure/Action:
Similar to the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline.
Form: Tablet
or capsule taken orally.
Physical Effects: Stimulation
that allows users to dance for extended periods, dehydration, hypertension, and
heart or kidney failure.
Psychological Effects:
Confusion, depression, anxiety and paranoia.
Effects of Long-Term Use: Long-lasting
or permanent damage to serotonin-producing neurons, resulting in memory
impairment.
Overdose Effects: Significant
increase in body temperature leading to muscle breakdown and cardiovascular
system failure; death from heart attack or stroke is also possible.
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Slang Terms: Whippets, Gas, Balloons, Ozone, Thrust,
Nitrous, Canisters, NOS
Chemical Structure/Action: N2O
Form: Nitrous oxide is a colorless, almost odorless gas.
When placed in a tank it is a compressed gas.
Physical Effects: Euphoria, dizziness, general state of
central nervous system depression. Muscles will be relaxed. Lowered blood
pressure, arrhythmia, elevated pulse are common. Generally the person acts
extremely anesthetized, sometimes becoming unconscious. Onset of effects are
immediate, and generally last approximately 5 minutes, depending on the dose.
Psychological Effects: Nitrous oxide is considered
non-addictive, however, researchers believe that it has a degree of
psychological addiction.
Effects of Long-Term Use: Damage can occur to bone marrow and
the central nervous system. A resultant anemia-like state may develop causing
peripheral numbness, tingling sensations, and un-coordination. Long term use
results in a resistance to other anesthetics and organ damage. Some of these
adverse effects can be permanent.
Overdose Effects: Immediate danger of nitrous oxide is the risk
of suffocation. Additionally, sniffing directly from a nitrous tank can cause
frostbite of the lips, mouth, throat, and lungs because of the extremely cold
temperatures of the release of the gas. Initially, abusers do not feel the
frostbite until after the anesthetic effect wears off. In extreme cases, Sudden
Sniffing Death Syndrome can ensue.
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