Everything you need to know about dangerous club drugs

Since the early 90’s there has been a drastic increase in the use of substances referred to as “club drugs”.

Effects on young people

These dangerous club drugs are most common among teens, young adults, and those a part of the LGBTQ community.

The term most specifically refers to ecstasy, or MDMA, ketamine, and LSD. In small doses, these drugs may not be terribly harmful, but they do have a potential for addiction which can lead to health problems as well as mental health problems. The biggest concern is the mimicking of these drugs with the use of “designer drugs.”

Dangerous Club Drugs : Designer Drugs

Designer drugs have gained massive momentum since the early 2000s. They include cathinone derivatives, or bath salts, and many other obscure research chemicals.

Little is known about these drugs, but many overdoses, seizures, panic attacks, and psychotic episodes have been reported. These drugs are used because they produce similar effects as club drugs like euphoria, stimulation, and hallucinations.

Designer drugs can be pressed into tablets to mimic ecstasy, in powder to mimic “molly” (MDMA), or dropped on blotter paper to mimic LSD. This makes the drugs extremely hard to detect by the user, until it is too late. This has triggered organizations to form, like Dance Safe, whom test drugs at music festivals and sell affordable drug identification kits. This is known as a form of harm reduction with the aim of enabling people to use drugs safer. Although no drug is “safe”, the goal of harm reduction in the club community is to deter harmful and deadly adulterants.

One should never consume drugs purchased in a club or music festival. These are hotbeds for dealers who want to make a quick buck and often fake their drugs with harmful additives. These designer drugs are typically purchased on the internet for extremely cheap prices because they are produced in giant labs in China and are extremely hard to detect compared to more common drugs like MDMA.

MDMA

Even real MDMA has a high potential for addiction and injury while in a club. Often MDMA users will dance for many hours without consuming food or water. MDMA produces a huge rush of energy and euphoria. It is a stimulant which means it also suppresses appetite. This can often lead to exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. The body temperature rises while on MDMA, this combined with dancing for long periods of time can lead to dangerously high fevers.

Drugs like GHB and MDMA are very common among the LGBT clubbing community. More than 20% of LGBT community members abuse substances. These club drugs are known as aphrodisiacs and unsafe sex is often a result. Unwanted or unprotected sex is common among the drug-using LGBT community, and trauma or STDs potential is very high. GHB also has a high potential for overdose or black-outs, which can leave a person vulnerable to assault.

LSD

LSD can also leave a person very vulnerable. LSD can cause delusion and hallucinations, and can sometimes cause panic attacks while in a crowded club. On its own the drug is not very physically harmful, but it has been reported to trigger mental illness like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.