What are “Club Drugs”?
The sun goes down, young people and party-goers hit the streets seeking quick thrills, the scene is set for some of the most traumatic drug experiences. In the United States, nightclubs, concerts, bars, and parties are the most common dwellings of this class of recreational psychoactive substances called Club Drugs. Users experience changes in mood, perception, and behavior are triggered while these club drugs wreak havoc on the central nervous system. Substance abuse is common with psychoactive drug and different treatments for illicit drugs may be needed to deal with withdrawal symptoms and dependence. This article will go over some facts and treatments that will keep you informed about club drug addiction.
Most club drugs are illegal; other instances revolve around the misuse and abuse of prescriptions; they can cause serious illness, injury, or even death. Substances are commonly mixed or laced with different ingredients, and there is always the risk that these drugs could contain extra toxic components. There is no way to know for sure what you are putting into your body.
Many club drugs are also called designer drugs, referring to the fact that many of the drugs are manmade (for example, Ecstasy or ketamine ) rather than found in nature (for example, marijuana or opium derivatives). Club drugs encompass a wide variety of party drugs that are most commonly used at nightclubs, raves, bars, concerts, college campuses, and even within school systems. However, club drugs are favored over other recreational drug, such as marijuana, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methamphetamine, and opiates, because they are believed to enhance social interaction.
Some common types of club drugs and their adverse effects include:
Ecstasy
The most common of the club drugs, a derivative of methamphetamine that is often used at parties resulting from being in a class of uppers. Minutes after ingestion, the user’s heart rate increases; the drug taps into the brain’s reserve of the chemical serotonin and produces euphoria and keeps people engaged for long periods. A number of products are sold legally as “herbal ecstasy.” These products, available in health food stores or on the Internet.
Users are prone to experiencing dehydration, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and extreme rises in body temperature. The long-term effects of these psychoactive substances cause serious health problems and can result in death. Early deaths are most likely due to dehydration, leading to heart failure, kidneys, and liver. Later deaths are most often caused by seizures and a disorder that causes irregular blood chemistry.
Rohypnol
Commonly referred to as a “roofie” or a “date rape drug,” Rohypnol is used for deep sedation and is legally available for prescription in more than 50 countries outside the U.S. In the past years, there has been an increase in reports at young adults at bars being unknowingly dosed with Rohypnol and saying they faced sexual assault. Hours after ingestion of this chemical, there occurs low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, dizziness, nausea, vision disturbances, aggressive behavior. Symptoms such as headache, stress, intense anxiety, restlessness, muscle pain, and even seizures are produced by withdrawal symptoms.
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid)
GHB has been used in low doses as an experimental treatment for narcolepsy, with sedative effects such as Rohypnol. It is available either as a white powdery substance or in a colorless, tasteless liquid form and sometimes mixed with alcohol to intensify its effects. GHB and two of its precursors, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (BD), have been involved in poisonings, overdoses, acquaintance rape, and deaths.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a potent PCP-derived sedative widely used in large animals in veterinary hospitals. Ketamine can be added to beverages or smokable products or injected. Effects include dream-like states and hallucinations include the effects of the use of ketamine alongside temporary paralysis. The brain stays awake while the body shuts down. The long-term effects of ketamine misuse have not been analyzed in-depth yet. However, it has been suggested that specific symptoms may recur even without the use of the drug, and psychosis may occur with chronic use.
Phencyclidine
Also called “Angel Dust” side effects can last from 24-48 hours during major overdoses. Disassociation resembling Schizophrenia may occur with a combination of high blood pressure, aggression, and alterations in body images. Such risky behaviors have culminated in people falling from heights, attempting impossible physical feats, psychiatric disorder, dangerous interactions with others (especially law enforcement), and self-harm. There can also be neurological symptoms of club drug abuse, such as uncontrolled eye movements, failure to maintain composure, and difficulty talking. With large doses of drugs of abuse, users can lose consciousness.
Harmful Effects of Club Drugs
Here are some harmful effects of club drug addiction and why you may want to steer clear of them.
- Depression when the drug wears off
- Memory loss
- Heart Attacks or Kidney Failure
- Impaired decision making
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle Pain
- Psychiatric disorder
The long-term use of illegal drugs can stop the body from making testosterone, and even put you at a higher risk of sleep disorders, heart attacks and riskier behavior.
Treatment for Club Drugs
Users often use club drugs simultaneously with more common inhibitors, such as alcohol, marijuana, and other synthetic drugs. Recovery is possible with professional medical advice and rehab centers.
At Pacific Sands Recovery Center, our staff is trained and equipped with the knowledge to help ease dependence on club drugs. Our expert approach is geared towards identifying the deep-rooted causes of illegal drugs dependency and whether this substance use disorder is coupled with other co-occurring conditions, such as depression. We take the time to understand and address the reason for seeking help and determine the best approach for successful treatment for club drug abuse, whether it’s a pharmacological approach, detox assistance, intensive combination of group and individual counseling, education, nutritional guidance, or outside support.We’re Here To Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use disorder, let us help you take back control. Take advantage of top-rated accommodations in Orange County, California.
