Health Updates
Don't Join the Club: Club Drugs and Ecstasy
The music was loud and the entire place was filled with energy.
Carlos and his friend Tony had heard about the rave and decided
to check it out. As they made their way through the crowd,
another teen came up to Tony. He offered him some ecstasy.
Carlos knew the dangers of ecstasy and other club drugs.
A close friend of his had been sexually assaulted after using
one of these drugs and passing out. He also knew about the
long-term effects, like brain damage and memory problems.
Tony wanted to try the drug just once. Grabbing Tony by the
arm, Carlos hustled him out of the club. There were better
places for them to be.
Know the Drugs, Know the Dangers
There has been a sharp increase in the number of illnesses
resulting from club drug use. Club drugs include a wide variety
of illegal substances sold and used at all-night dance parties
called raves. They are also used at nightclubs and concerts.
Some of the more common club drugs are the following:
- Ecstasy Also known as E, X, XTC, and Adam, this
drug is both a stimulant and an hallucinogen. It can cause
brain damage, sleeplessness, and pain.
- GHB Small doses of this depressant make the user
relax, but higher doses can cause sleep problems, coma,
and death. Street names include liquid ecstasy, Grievous
Bodily Harm, and Liquid X.
- Rohypnol Also called Roofies, R-2, and Roach, this
tasteless, odorless drug mixes easily in carbonated drinks.
It lowers blood pressure and causes confusion, dizziness,
and nausea.
- Ketamine Just a small amount of this anesthetic
results in reduced attention span, learning ability, and
memory. Higher doses cause high blood pressure, amnesia,
breathing problems, and depression. Slang names: Special
K, Vitamin K, and Kit Kat.
- LSD People who take "acid" can start
behaving unpredictably. Numbness, nausea, increased heart
rate, lack of appetite, and sleep problems are some of its
effects.
Teens and Club Drugs
Teens are attracted to these drugs because of their availability
and low cost. They think the drugs will increase their stamina
and give them intoxicating highs. The high is only temporary.
The reality is that the long-term effects are far more dangerous—and
permanent.
Another danger is using more than one type of drug, combining
drugs together, or using both drugs and alcohol. One drug
can make the effects of another worse. Teens may think that
trying these drugs just once won't hurt. However, some people
have an extreme or even fatal reaction the very first time
they take the drugs. In addition, the drugs can be extremely
addictive.
The effects of club drugs cannot be "danced off."
Depression, confusion, paranoia, and sleeping problems have
occurred weeks after the drugs were taken.
Majority Rules
You may think everyone else is already doing drugs. Look
around. The vast majority of teens are not using club drugs.
In a recent poll of students, 94 percent have never even tried
ecstasy. Less than 2 percent of students in the eighth to
twelfth grades admitted to using ecstasy regularly.
Just Don't Do It
To be aware of the dangers of taking ecstasy and other club
drugs, you should know these facts:
- They affect your body. Each drug affects each person
in a different way. Despite what other people may say, you
have no way of knowing how the drug will affect you. You
may have loss of muscle control, blurred vision, or seizures.
Stimulants such as ecstasy can increase heart rate and blood
pressure and lead to heart or kidney failure. GHB and other
depressants can bring on drowsiness, unconsciousness, and
difficulty breathing.
- They affect your brain. Club drugs damage the neurons
in your brain and affect your senses, memory, and coordination.
- They affect your judgment and self-control. GHB
and Rohypnol can knock you out and leave you with no memory
of what happened. These drugs have been used in date rape
crimes and other types of assault.
- They are not what they seem. Because the drugs
are illegal, it is impossible to know just what and how
much is in a dose. Strength and potency varies.
- They can kill you. High doses can bring on severe
breathing problems, coma, and death.
Staying Safe
Not every teen who goes to a rave or nightclub buys or uses
drugs. But it helps to stick to a few basic rules.
- Be informed. New drugs are appearing on the scene
continuously. Be aware of them so you can avoid them.
- Keep yourself safe. If you are at a rave, club,
or concert where drugs are available, always pour your own
soda or drink. Never let the drink out of your sight.
Just the Facts
- Name two club drugs and one of the street names for each.
- Describe three of the effects club drugs can have on a
user.
Beyond the Facts
- In the article, Tony was considering giving ecstasy a
try. What warning could Carlos have given his friend about
the dangers of trying a club drug just once?
- Using print or online resources, find one or two other
types of club drugs. What are the dangers of each?
Applying the Facts
Make a chart showing the effects of club drugs. Use the information
in the article or gather more using print or online resources.
The top level should list the name of each drug. On the next
level, write the street names for each. The next level should
list the effects. Present the facts creatively: for example,
write "seizures" in jagged letters, and write the
word "dizziness" in the shape of a spiral. Illustrate
your chart. Share the chart with classmates.
