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What are club drugs?
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Some of the most common club drugs (listed by generally recognized names) are:
ecstasy
methamphetamine
GHB
ketamine
Rohypnol (brand name of flunitrazepam)
Most club drugs were originally created to treat some sort of medical condition. They became recreational drugs when people discovered that their effects enhanced the experience of being in social environments and other settings.
Typically, club drugs are made in laboratories. Many club drugs come in multiple forms—pills, caplets, powder, crystals and even liquid (for injecting or mixing in a drink). Some of them look similar to one another. This makes it hard to tell which drug is which or what each drug contains. It’s not uncommon for a person to buy and use a drug that they didn’t want or that is mixed with toxic additives they didn’t know about.
How do club drugs work?
Each club drug works in a different way. But all club drugs are similar in that they affect the production of naturally-occurring chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
Stimulant drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine increase the production of dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin. These neurotransmitters activate a series of nerve cells in the brain’s “pleasure pathway.†This gives the user energy and a heightened sense of well-being.
Depressant drugs such as GHB and Rohypnol increase the efficiency of chemicals that slow things down in the body. This results in the feeling of peace and relaxation.
Club drugs that are injected or smoked take effect immediately. Those that are snorted (sniffed into the nostril) or ingested take more time to reach the brain—up to 40 minutes—but the effects last longer.
Why do people use club drugs?
Some people use ecstasy because it makes them feel loving and affectionate. It also intensifies the senses, especially touch. As a stimulant, ecstasy allows people to stay active on the dance floor for long a time.
Methamphetamine—in the form of speed or crystal meth—is used to increase a person’s energy level. It can also help people experience a sense of euphoria and heightened self-confidence.
GHB is sometimes used as a substitute for alcohol. It can produce the same relaxed, sociable feeling a person would get from having a few drinks.
Some people use Ketamine because they like how it makes they feel detached from their body and environment.
Some people use Rohypnol when they want to become very relaxed or intoxicated. The drug creates drowsiness. It can also make a person lose their inhibitions. Both Rohypnol and GHB have been referred to as date rape drugs because, mixed with alcohol, they produce profound sedation. Victims who are slipped these drugs (usually into their drinks) become easy targets for abuse.
Club drugs are most often talked about in terms of people having fun. But they are also used by people wanting to temporarily escape hard times or problems in their daily lives. Some people come to rely on club drugs as a way of coping with stress, depression, boredom or a difficult situation.
What are the risks and health effects of using club drugs?
Using a club drug is always risky because a person can never know for sure what they are putting in their bodies. Often drugs sold on the black market contain other drugs. Or, the people selling them may say they are offering one kind of drug but actually giving another. A user can also never be sure about the concentration of the drug they are buying. This increases the risk of overdose.
Club drugs have many side effects. Some of these side effects can cause extreme discomfort. They include:
racing of the heart
chest pain
ryness of the mouth
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
physical tension
Some people who experiment with club drugs risk getting hooked on trying to achieve the original high they felt the first time they used them. They also risk relying on them too often for their short-term, anti-depressant effects. The more they use, the more tolerant their body becomes and the greater their risk of developing a physical or psychological dependence. Physical dependence can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
Dependence on any drug can lead people to do things they don’t really want to in order to be able to afford the drug and continue using it. As a result, some people end up damaging their relationships with family members and friends.
Some of the perceived benefits of drugs can also lead to unexpected problems. For example, a person who uses ecstasy so they can dance for a long time may lose a dangerous amount of body fluid. They may dehydrate, suffer heat exhaustion or even die because of fluid loss. Increased affection toward strangers can lead to unwanted sexual activity, the spreading of sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancy.
Drugs that make a person unconscious or unable to move leave them vulnerable to date rape or other safety risks.
Steady use of some club drugs can cause chemical changes in the brain. Users can experience:
confusion
delirium
allucinations
paranoia
depression and withdrawal from loved ones
aggression
schizophrenia-like behavior
Further research is needed to determine if these effects are permanent.
Are club drugs legal?
Some club drugs are legal when prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons. Recreational use is illegal. The maximum penalty for making and selling some club drugs is life in prison (25 years).
When is using club drugs a problem?
Whenever a person’s use of club drugs negatively affects their life, or the lives of others, they have a problem with the drug.
According a recent survey in Vancouver and Victoria, many people do experience problems because of their use of club drugs:
48% experienced relationship problems
32% had problems at work
26% had financial problems
20% had problems completing school-related tasks and activities
8% experienced legal problems
Using a club drug is particularly risky when it involves:
mixing substances
masking mental illness
engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour
pregnancy and breastfeeding
What to do if you or someone you know is experiencing a problemwith club drugs
For information on treatment options and resources throughout BC, call the Alcohol and Drug Information Referral Service at 1–800–663–1441. In Greater Vancouver, call 604–660–9382.
For information on ways to help yourself with a substance use problem, see the “Tips†section of the Here to Help website:
www.heretohelp.bc.ca. The website also features detailed information on substances and mental health disorders.
You can also find information on a wide variety of substance use issues on the Centre for Addictions Research of BC website:
www.carbc.ca.
