What are Club Drugs?
Club drugs
(also sometimes called Dance Drugs or Designer Drugs) are drugs
which at one time were found most frequently in night clubs and
at raves, but have since become some of the fastest growing drugs
used by college students. These drugs include MDMA (ecstasy,
E, or X), ketamine
(special K), GHB
(liquid ecstasy, somatomax, scoop, Georgia Home Boy, grievous
bodily harm), and crystal methamphetamine (speed, crank, crystal,
tina).
What is GHB? GHB (gamma
hydroxybutyrate) is typically an odorless, colorless liquid, with
a slightly salty taste. It is classified as a sedative and is in
the same drug family as Rohypnol
and ketamine.
GHB is
used as a general anesthetic in Europe. In the US, the FDA approved GHB for use in the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) in 2002. This approval came with severe restrictions, including its use only for the treatment of narcolepsy and the requirement of a patient registry monitored by the FDA.
It has been used in this country as a date
rape drug: it can be slipped into a victim's drink, causing
dizziness, confusion, drowsiness and sometimes loss of consciousness.
When GHB is combined with alcohol, it is especially dangerous because
the combination of two depressants can lead to overdose. Before
the use of GHB was restricted, it was marketed to bodybuilders as a product
to release growth hormone and build muscles. There is no evidence
that it produces this effect. GHB was also marketed as an "herbal"
supplement to help with sleep and depression.
Researchers
do not know precisely how GHB affects neurochemistry; however, it
is seen as a very powerful sedative because small doses can lead
to serious effects, such as loss of consciousness. Evidence suggests
that it easily crosses the blood-brain barrier -- the physiological
mechanism that regulates the release of chemicals and nutrients
into the brain. Therefore, it has an ability to act on the brain
directly in a way that other drugs do not.
How is GHB used?
GHB is
generally taken in a liquid form, though it is sometimes found in
powder, tablet, or capsules. Since in its liquid form the strength
of GHB varies, and people's reactions to it vary, it is very easy
to take a dangerous dose of this drug. The effects of the drug begin
10 to 20 minutes after taking it and last up to 4 hours.
Why do people take GHB?
GHB can
produce hallucinations and feelings of relaxation and euphoria.
People who use GHB also report feeling increased energy, feeling
affectionate and sociable, mild disinhibition and enhanced sexual
experience.
Are there short-term risks to taking
GHB?
Health
risks include nausea, loss of coordination, difficulty concentrating,
and loss of gag reflex. Because doses are difficult to quantify,
overdose can occur quite easily, especially when combined with alcohol.
Warning sings of GHB overdose can include:
Vomiting
Severe
headache
Very
slow breathing and heart rate
Withdrawal
symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, tremors and sweating
Memory
loss
Difficulty
breathing
Loss
of consciousness
Because
of the risk of overdose, GHB may be the most dangerous club drug
in terms of its immediate consequences. GHB has caused 73 GHB related
deaths since 1995. GHB emergency room admissions nearly quadrupled
nationwide between 1998 and 2000, when 4,969 cases were reported.
Because
GHB leaves the body's system relatively quickly, it is not easily
detected by medical tests. It is important to tell a medical provider
that you have been using GHB so that you can get appropriate medical
help.
GHB can
easily be slipped into someone's drink undetected. If you start
to feel symptoms that don't make sense with what you are drinking,
get help immediately.
Remember
that illegal drugs are produced in underground labs and you can
never be sure what's in the drug or how strong it is. Making GHB
from a recipe is also extremely dangerous as, a number of people
who did not formulate GHB correctly, have burned their mouths, throats,
and esophagi with what was essentially an acid compound.
Are there long-term consequences to taking
GHB?
No long-term
research has been done on GHB's impact on the brain yet, but because
it's such a powerful sedative, it most likely affects the brain's
memory and learning functions. Recent work has shown that GHB is
highly addictive when used over extended periods of time (see
below).
Is GHB addictive? Repeated use of GHB may lead to withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety and tremors. Experiencing withdrawal is one of the signs of addiction. There are not a lot of statistics on GHB abuse, but the available information suggests that GHB abuse is growing. There are a number of reported cases of GHB addiction and it appears that once someone is addicted, GHB is harder to kick than cocaine or heroin. Treatment options remain limited. Because of the severity of withdrawal symptoms from GHB, it's imperative to have professional help when detoxing from GHB. Withdrawal can include delirium, disorientation, and hallucinations that may last up to two weeks.
How do I help a friend who's having trouble
with drugs?
If you
are concerned about
a friend's drug or alcohol use, this page contains helpful
information about different ways to help them.
This educational website provides information on the dangers of
GHB, drugs that are similar to GHB and help for addiction.
DanceSafe is a harm-reduction web site centered on drugs found
in nightclubs and raves. The site offers drug information, a risk
assessment, ecstasy testing kits and e-news.
This site provides drug information and answers questions on GHB
use in the gay community.
NCADI provides alcohol and drug facts, research briefs and related
resources. This is a link to a report on GHB abuse in the US
Disclaimer: Health Education is part of Health Services at Brown University. Health Education maintains this site as a resource for Brown students. This site is not intended to replace consultation with your medical providers. No site can replace real conversation. Health Education offers no endorsement of and assumes no liability for the currency, accuracy, or availability of the information on the sites we link to or the care provided by the resources listed. Health Services staff are available to treat and give medical advice to Brown University students only. If you are not a Brown student, but are in need of medical assistance please call your own health care provider or in case of an emergency, dial 911. Please contact us if you have comments, questions or suggestions.
