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Across the country, teens and young adults enjoy all-night dance
parties known as "raves" and increasingly encounter more than just music.
Dangerous substances known collectively as club drugs-including Ecstasy,
GHB, and Rohypnol-are gaining popularity. These drugs aren't "fun
drugs."
Although users may think these substances are harmless, research has
shown that club drugs can produce a range of unwanted effects, including
hallucinations, paranoia, amnesia, and, in some cases, death. When used with
alcohol, these drugs can be even more harmful. Some club drugs work on the same
brain mechanisms as alcohol and, therefore, can dangerously boost the effects
of both substances. Also, there are great differences among individuals in how
they react to these substances and no one can predict how he or she will react.
Some people have been known to have extreme, even fatal, reactions the first
time they use club drugs. And studies suggest club drugs found in party
settings are often adulterated or impure and thus even more
dangerous.
Because some club drugs are colorless, tasteless, and
odorless,they are easy for people to slip into drinks. Some of these drugs have
been associated with sexual assaults, and for that reason they are referred to
as "date rape drugs."
"X," "Adam," and "MDMA" are slang names for Ecstasy, which is
a stimulant and a hallucinogen. Young people may use Ecstasy to improve their
moods or get energy to keep dancing; however, chronic abuse of Ecstasy appears
to damage the brain's ability to think and regulate emotion, memory, sleep, and
pain.
"G," "Liquid Ecstasy," "Georgia Home Boy" or Gamma-hydroxybutyrate
(GHB) may be made in homes by using recipes with common ingredients. At
lower doses, GHB can relax the user, but, as the dose increases, the sedative
effects may result in sleep and eventual coma or death.
"Roofie" or "Roche" (Rohypnol) is tasteless and odorless. It
mixes easily in carbonated beverages. Rohypnol may cause individuals under the
influence of the drug to forget what happened. Other effects include low blood
pressure, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and stomach upset.
"Special K" or "K" (Ketamine) is an anesthetic. Use of a small
amount of ketamine results in loss of attention span, learning ability, and
memory. At higher doses, ketamine can cause delirium, amnesia, high blood
pressure, depression, and severe breathing problems.
"Speed," "Ice," "Chalk," "Meth" (Methamphetamine) is often
made in home laboratories. Methamphetamine use can cause serious health
concerns, including memory loss, aggression, violence, psychotic behavior, and
heart problems.
"Acid" or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) may cause
unpredictable behavior depending on the amount taken, where the drug is used,
and on the user's personality. A user might feel the following effects:
numbness, weakness, nausea, increased heart rate, sweating, lack of appetite,
"flashbacks," and sleeplessness.
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