The term “club drugs” refers to mostly illegal drugs that are popular among young people who frequent all-night dance parties or “raves”.  Included in the club drug category are the commonly called “date rape” drugs, which are primarily strong sedative drugs that put the user into a very deep sleep.  As the following information shows, use of any of these drugs is very dangerous.  The dangers increase with how and where the drug was made, how much of the drug is taken, and whether the user ingests alcohol or other drugs along with the club drug.

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
Other names: ecstasy, XTC, X, Adam, clarity, lover’s speed

-MDMA was developed and patented in the early 1900s as an appetite suppressant, although it was never tested on people.  MDMA is taken orally, usually in a tablet or capsule form.
-Because MDMA is similar to the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline, it can produce both stimulant and psychedelic effects in users.  MDMA’s effects last approximately three to six hours.  However, the confusion, depression, sleep problems and other associated effects can last weeks after the drug is taken.
-One’s sense of touch and sexual pleasure is reportedly greatly intensified when under the influence of MDMA, hence the origin of one of its street names—ecstasy—and one of the reasons it is cited as a “date rape” drug.
-Chronic use of MDMA can produce long-lasting, perhaps permanent, brain damage and memory impairment.
-MDMA use may lead to heart attacks, strokes and seizures.  In high doses, it can be extremely dangerous, even fatal.
-The stimulant effect of MDMA enables users to dance or perform other physical activity for extended periods.  This may lead to dehydration, hypertension and heart of kidney failure.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
Other names: G, liquid ecstasy, grievous bodily harm, Georgia home boy

- GHB is often manufactured in homes from recipes and ingredients found and purchased on the Internet.  It is manufactured as either a clear liquid or a white powder that can be made into a tablet or capsule.
-GHB is a central nervous system depressant.  In low doses, it relaxes the body and relieves anxiety.  As the dose increases, the sedative effect causes deep sleep, which is why GHB is grouped with the “date rape” drugs.  Larger doses will result in dangerously slowed breathing and heart rates, as well as in coma and/or death.  There is no way to tell how much GHB will cause adverse physical reactions that will lead to death—each person’s tolerance is different.
-The drug is usually abused either for its intoxicating/sedative/euphoriant  properties or for its growth hormone-releasing effects, which can build muscles.
-GHB’s intoxicating effects begin 10 to 20 minutes after the drug is taken.  The effects typically last up to four hours, depending on the dosage.
-GHB is cleared from the body relatively quickly, so it is sometimes difficulty to detect in emergency rooms and other treatment facilities.

Ketamine
Other names:  K, special K, vitamin K, cat valium

-Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been approved for medical use with both humans and animals.  About 90% of the Ketamine legally sold today is intended for veterinary use.
-Ketamine comes in liquid for or as a white powder that can be snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco.  It also can be injected.
-Large doses of the drug can cause dream-like states and hallucinations.  At higher doses, it can cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression and potentially fatal respiratory problems.  Lower doses of the drug can impair attention, learning ability and memory.

Rohypnol®
Other name:  roofies, rophies, Roche, the forget-me pill

-Rohypnol® (flunitrazepam) belongs to the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which include Valium®, Halcion®, Xanax® and Versed®.  It is not approved for prescription use in the U.S., although it is approved in Europe and is used in more than 60 countries as a treatment for insomnia, as a sedative and as an anesthetic.
-Rohypnol® is tasteless and odorless, and it dissolves easily in carbonated beverages.  It’s usually taken orally, although it can be ground up and snorted.
-The drug can cause amnesia.  Individuals may not remember events they experienced while under the influence of the drug.  This may be why one of the street names for Rhypnol® is “the date rape drug”—the drug has been used in sexual assaults.
-A dose of Rohypnol® as small as 1 mg. can impair a user for 8 to 12 hours.  The sedative and toxic effects are intensified if taken with alcohol.
-Other adverse effects associated with Rohypnol® include decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, gastrointestinal disturbances and urine retention.

Methamphetine
Other names:  speed, ice, chalk, meth, crystal, crank, fire glass

-Methamphetamine is a toxic, addictive stimulant that affects many areas of the central nervous system.
-Methamphetamine is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in beverages.  It can be smoked, snorted, injected or orally ingested.  The drug is often made in underground laboratories from relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients.
-Methamphetamine use is associated with serious health consequences, including memory loss, aggression, violence, psychotic behavior and potential cardiac and neurological damage.
-Methamphetamine users typically display signs of agitation, excited speech, decreased appetite and increased physical activity.
-Methamphetamine users are less able to process dopamine, a chemical produced by the adrenal gland that naturally relieves stress.
-Methamphetamine use is associated with higher rates of transmission of infectious diseases, especially hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
Other names: acid, boomers, yellow sunshines

-LSD is a hallucinogen that can alter a user’s mood, thoughts and perceptions.  The effects of LSD are unpredictable and depend on the dose, the setting and the user’s personality, mood and expectations.
-LSD is typically taken orally.  It is sold in tablet, capsule and liquid forms and in pieces of blotter paper that have absorbed the drug.
-A user typically feels the effects of the drug 30 to 90 minutes after taking it.  Its physical effects include dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth and tremors.
-LSD users report numbness, weakness or trembling, and nausea is common.
-There are two long-term disorders associated with LSD.  Psychotic episodes occur in a small number of users who have no prior history of mental illness.  These episodes may last for weeks after use of the drug.  “Flashbacks” can also occur long after use.  These are usually visual disturbances that may last from a few seconds to several hours.

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Rock Creek, Ohio 44084
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