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Club Drugs Abuse
| Drug Abuse
Club
Drugs Ecstasy, GHB, Ketamine |
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MDMA
(Ecstasy), Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine are among the drugs used by teens and young adults
who are part of a nightclub, bar, rave, or trance scene. Raves and trance events are
generally night-long dances, often held in warehouses. Many who attend raves and trances
do not use drugs, but those who do may be attracted to the generally low cost, seemingly
increased stamina, and intoxicating highs that are said to deepen the rave or trance
experience.
Current science, however, is showing
change to critical parts of the brain from use of these drugs. Also, in high doses most of
these drugs can cause a sharp increase in body temperature (malignant hyperthermia)
leading to muscle breakdown and kidney and cardiovascular system failure.
MDMA (Ecstasy)
MDMA is a synthetic, psychoactive
drug with both stimulant (amphetamine-like) and hallucinogenic (LSD-like) properties.
Street names for MDMA include Ecstasy, Adam, XTC, hug, beans, and love drug. Its chemical
structure (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, "MDMA") is similar to
methamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and mescaline - these are synthetic
drugs known to cause brain damage. MDMA usually is taken in pill form, but some users
snort it, inject it, or use it in suppository form.
| Many
problems MDMA users encounter are similar to those found with the use of amphetamines and
cocaine. Psychological difficulties can include confusion, depression, sleep problems,
severe anxiety, and paranoia. |
| Physical problems can
include muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness,
and chills or sweating. Use of the drug has also been associated with increases in heart
rate and blood pressure, which are special risks for people with circulatory or heart
disease. |
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| Recent
research also links MDMA use to long-term damage to those parts of the brain critical to
thought, memory, and pleasure. |
MDMA use is increasing
in most metropolitan areas of the United States.* In Boston and New York City, it appears
to be spreading beyond the club scene to the streets. Content of the MDMA pills also
varies widely, and may include caffeine, dextromethorphan, heroin, and mescaline. In some
areas of the country, the MDMA-like substance paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) has been
involved in the deaths of people who mistakenly thought they were taking true MDMA. The
deaths were due to complications from hyperthermia.
In a 5-year retrospective of
emergency room mentions of club drugs,** the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration reports that emergency room mentions involving MDMA increased from 250 in
1994 to 2,850 in 1999.
Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine
GHB, Rohypnol, and ketamine are
predominantly central nervous system depressants. Because they are often colorless,
tasteless, and odorless, they can be added to beverages and ingested unknowingly.
These drugs emerged a few years ago
as "date rape" drugs. Because of concern about their abuse, Congress passed the
"Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996" in October 1996. This
legislation increased Federal penalties for use of any controlled substance to aid in
sexual assault.
GHB
Since about 1990, GHB (gamma
hydroxybutyrate) has been abused in the U.S. for euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body
building) effects. It is a central nervous system depressant that was widely available
over-the-counter in health food stores during the 1980s and until 1992. It was purchased
largely by body builders to aid fat reduction and muscle building. Street names include
Liquid Ecstasy, Soap, Easy Lay, and Georgia Home Boy. Even though GHB may be difficult to
distinguish from water, it has appeared in law enforcement indicators, including seizures
of large amounts in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Phoenix.*
Coma and seizures can occur following
abuse of GHB and, when combined with methamphetamine, there appears to be an increased
risk of seizure. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and
difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia,
anxiety, tremors, and sweating.
GHB and two of its precursors, gamma
butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (BD) have been involved in poisonings, overdoses,
date rapes, and deaths. These products, obtainable over the internet and sometimes still
sold in health food stores, are also available at some gyms, raves, nightclubs, gay male
parties, college campuses, and the street. They are commonly mixed with alcohol (which may
cause unconsciousness), have a short duration of action, and are not easily detectable on
routine hospital toxicology screens.*
GHB emergency room mentions increased
from 55 in 1994 to 2,973 in 1999.** In 1999, GHB accounted for 32 percent of illicit
drug-related poison center calls in Boston. In Chicago and San Francisco, GHB use is
reportedly low compared with MDMA, although GHB overdoses seem frequent compared with
overdoses related to other club drugs.
Rohypnol
Rohypnol, a trade name for
flunitrazepam, has been of particular concern for the last few years because of its abuse
in date rape. It belongs to a class of drugs knows as benzodiazepines. When mixed with
alcohol, Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault.
It can produce "anterograde amnesia," which means individuals may not remember
events they experienced while under the effects of the drugs. Also, Rohypnol may be lethal
when mixed with alcohol and/or other depressants.
Rohypnol is not approved for use in
the United States, and its importation is banned. Illicit use of Rohypnol started
appearing in the United States in the early 1990s, where it became known as
"rophies," "roofies," "roach," and "rope."
Emergency room mentions of Rohypnol were 13 in 1994 and increased to 624 in 1998; they
decreased to 540 in 1999.**
Abuse of two other similar drugs
appears to be replacing Rohypnol abuse in Miami, Texas, and Boston. These are clonazepam,
marketed in the U.S. as Klonopin and in Mexico as Rivotril, and alprazolam (marketed as
Xanax). Rohypnol, however, continues to be a problem among treatment admissions in Texas,
particularly among young Hispanic males along the Mexican border.
Ketamine
Ketamine is an anesthetic that has
been approved for both human and animal use in medical settings since 1970; about 90
percent of the ketamine legally sold is intended for veterinary use. It can be injected or
snorted. Ketamine is also known as "Special K" or "vitamin K".
Certain doses of ketamine can cause
dream-like states and hallucinations, and it has become common in club and rave scenes and
has been used as a date rape drug.
At high doses, ketamine can cause
delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, and
potentially fatal respiratory problems.
| Emergency
room mentions of ketamine rose from 19 in 1994 to 396 in 1999.** Recent use has been
reported more frequently among white youth in many cities, |
| including Atlanta,
Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New York City, Phoenix, San
Diego, Texas, and Washington, DC.
If you have been using these club drugs give yourself a break
and get help today.
Tomorrow it might be too late. |
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