What are club drugs?

Club drugs are group of psychoactive drugs. They act on the central nervous system and can cause changes in mood, awareness, and behavior. These drugs are most often used by young adults at bars, concerts, nightclubs, and parties. Club drugs, like most drugs, have nicknames that change over time or are different in different areas of the country.

What are the different types of club drugs?

The most commonly used types of club drugs include

• MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also called Ecstasy and Molly
• GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate), also known as G and Liquid Ecstasy
• Ketamine, also known as Special K and K
• Rohypnol, also known as Roofies
• Methamphetamine, also known as Speed, Ice, and, Meth
• LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), also known as Acid

Some of these drugs are approved for certain medical uses. Other uses of these drugs are misuse.

What are date rape drugs?

Date rape drugs are any type of drug or alcohol used to make sexual assault easier. Someone could put one in your drink when you are not looking. Or you may be drinking alcohol or taking a drug, and a person may make it stronger without you knowing.

Club drugs are also sometimes used as "date rape" drugs. These drugs are very powerful. They can affect you very quickly, and you might not know that something is wrong. The length of time that the effects last varies. It depends on how much of the drug is in your body and if the drug is mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Alcohol can make the effects of drugs even stronger and can cause serious health problems - even death.

Are there steps I can take to protect myself from date rape drugs?

To try to avoid date rape drugs,

• Never leave your drink unattended
• Don't accept drinks from other people
• If drinking from a can or bottle, open your drink yourself
• Look out for your friends, and ask them to look out for you

What is it?

Known as a party drug, ecstasy comes in pill or powder form; pill has a variety of logos and colors.

Street Names

Adam, Beans, Biscuit, Clarity, Disco Biscuit, E, Eve, Go, Hug Drug, Lover’s Speed, MDMA, Peace, STP, X, XTC

How is it used?

• Swallowing gel capsules (Molly), pills, tablets
• Powder, Crystal, liquid
• Crushed or snorted
• Occasionally smoked

Paraphernalia

How does it affect the body?

• Increased motor activity, alertness, heart rate, blood pressure
• Muscle tension, tremors, teeth clenching, nausea, sweating
• Euphoria, empathy, reduced inhibition
• Chills, blurred vision
• Confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, severe dehydration
• Sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can lead to liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure and death

What is it?

Prescribed as Xyrem, it is also known as the “date rape drug." It comes in a liquid or as a white powder that is dissolved in water, juice, or alcohol. In liquid form, GHB is clear and colorless and slightly salty in taste.

Street Names

G, Georgia Home Boy, Goop, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Scoop, Liquid Ecstasy

How is it used?

• Usually a liquid, mixed in a beverage
• White powder normally dissolved in a liquid

How does it affect the body?

• Hallucinations
• Euphoria, drowsiness, decreased anxiety, excited and aggressive behavior
• Overdose symptoms: unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, greatly slowed breathing, lower body temperature, vomiting, nausea, coma, death
• Addictive. Withdrawal symptoms: insomnia, anxiety, tremors, increased heart rate and blood pressure, psychotic thoughts.

What is it?

General, short-acting anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects. Sometimes used to facilitate sexual assault crimes.

Street Names

Special K, Cat Valium, Kit Kat, K, Super Acid, Super K, Purple, Special La Coke, Jet, Vitamin K

How is it used?

•    Injected
•    Liquid mixed with liquids 
•    Powder that is snorted mixed in drinks, or smoked

Paraphernalia

How does it affect the body?

• Hallucinatory effects last 30-60 minutes
• Distorts sights and sounds
• Induces feelings of calmness and relaxation, relief from pain
• Immobility and amnesia
• Body feels out of control
• Agitation, depression, unconsciousness
• Hallucinations
• Flashbacks

What is it?

Very strong hallucinogen sold on streets that is odorless and colorless with high potential for abuse.

Street Names

Acid, Blotter Acid, Dots, Mellow Yellow, Window Pane

How is it used?

•    Added to absorbent paper such as blotter paper divided into square dosage units
•    Tablets or capsules
•    Occasionally in liquid form 

How does it affect the body?

• Hallucinations
• Distorted perception of shape and size of objects, colors, and sounds
• Acute anxiety and depression
• Flashbacks days and even months after
• Elevated heart rate, higher body temperature, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils
• Overdose symptoms: longer, more intense episodes, psychosis and death.

What is it?

Stimulant that speeds up body’s system that comes as pill or powder. Available in prescription as Desoxyn® to treat obesity and ADHD. Crystal meth resembles glass fragments and is an illegally altered version of the prescription drug that is cooked with over-the-counter drugs in meth labs.

Street Names

Meth, Speed, Ice, Shards, Bikers Coffee, Stove Top, Tweak, Yaba, Trash, Chalk, Crystal, Crank, Shabu

How is it used?

• Powder, pill
• Smoked, snorted, injected
• To intensify the effects, users may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of intake

Paraphernalia

How does it affect the body?

• Highly addictive
• Agitation, increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Increased respiration and body temperature
• Anxiety, paranoia
• High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death

What is it?

Depressant and benzodiazepine with generic name Flunitrazepam. It is not approved for medical use in the United States. Used by cocaine abusers to relieve side effects, and also used as a “date rape” drug.

Street Names

Circles, Forget Me Pill, La Rocha, Lunch Money Drug, Mexican Valium, Pingus, R2, Roach 2, Ruffies, Rophies, Wolfies

How is it used?

• Oblong olive green tablet, swallowed, crushed and snorted
• Can be dissolved in liquids
• When placed in a light-colored drink, will dye it blue

Paraphernalia

How does it affect the body?

• Muscle relaxant, decreased anxiety
• Drowsiness, amnesia, sleep
• Slurred speech, loss of coordination
• Impaired mental function, confusion
• Addictive