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Mushrooms |
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| The term "club drugs"
refers to a wide range of substances that are commonly abused by
young adults and teens at all-night "rave" clubs and parties. The
drugs reported in these scenes are extremely diverse and vary among
locales. Overall, they include drugs that have long been abused,
such as marijuana and cocaine, and drugs whose abuse is a more
recent development. Some are stimulants, some depressants, and some
hallucinogens - while most exhibit multiple pharmacological
properties. This section addresses the below club drugs, grouped as
follows: |
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| "Designer drug" is the
term used for a drug created by changing the molecular structure of
one or more existing drugs to create a new substance. Designer drugs
have no accepted medical purpose. As a result, they are synthesized
in illicit laboratories. MDMA (ecstasy) is the most sought after and
the most commonly abused of the designer drugs. The other designer
drugs are considered by users to be inferior substitutes for MDMA
and are typically only ingested unknowingly, when present in tablets
sold as ecstasy. Examples of other designer drugs are: MDA, MDE,
MBDB, DOB, DOM, 2C-B. MDMA and MDA are discussed below.
|
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| Synonyms:
dl-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine |
|
| Drug Class:
CNS
Stimulant, Hallucinogen |
|
| Street
Names: Beans, E, Ecstacy, Ecstasy, Rolls, X,
XTC |
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| Description: MDMA is classified as both a
stimulant and a hallucinogen. When ingested, MDMA produces potent
feelings of empathy and well-being beyond that associated with other
drugs of abuse. For this reason, it is the most sought after drug in
the club environment. MDMAs chemical structure is similar to
methamphetamine, MDA, and mescaline. It is found primarily in tablet
form, known as "ecstasy". Though ecstasy tablets often contain other
compounds in addition to MDMA, such as methamphetamine, mescaline,
MDA, ketamine, caffeine, and others. Users are typically unaware of
the exact combination of drugs they are actually taking. Physical
symptoms can include jaw clenching, teeth grinding, dilated pupils,
perspiring, anxiety, blurred vision, vomiting, and increased blood
pressure and heart rate. MDMA is not known to be addictive. However,
the after-effects of an MDMA episode can be dramatic, sometimes
lasting for several days. These effects include physical and mental
exhaustion, depression, irritability, poor concentration,
forgetfulness, and paranoia. |
|
| Excretion:
Urinary excretion accounts for 65% of an MDMA dose as unchanged MDMA
and 7% as MDA within 3 days. Due to chemical similarities with
methamphetamine, MDMA shows significant cross-reactivity with many
types of methamphetamine urine screen
tests. |
| Synonyms:
dl-3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine |
|
| Drug Class:
CNS
Stimulant, Hallucinogen |
|
| Description: MDA is classified as both a
stimulant and a hallucinogen. Its chemical structure is similar to
amphetamine and MDMA. MDA produces effects in users similar to that
of MDMA. However, MDMA remains the drug of choice among users. Thus,
MDA is typically only ingested unknowingly, when present in
combination with MDMA in ecstasy tablets. |
|
| Excretion:
The human metabolism of MDA has not been studied. However, urine MDA
concentrations of up to 160,000 ng/ml have been recorded in fatal
cases. This suggests that substantial portions of MDA are excreted
in the urine unchanged. Due to chemical similarities with
amphetamine, MDA shows significant cross-reactivity with many types
of amphetamine urine screen tests. |
| Hallucinogens, also
known as "psychedelics", refers to a wide range of substances
derived from both natural and synthetic sources. In general,
hallucinogens distort the users sensory perceptions and may also
create feelings of euphoria. These effects vary depending on the
drug in question. The stronger hallucinogens can exert a powerful
effect on a drug users thinking and can produce sensory illusions
that make it difficult to distinguish between fact and fantasy. In
general, hallucinogens do not create a physical dependence, but they
can create a psychological dependence. Their consumption also
creates a tolerance that is built rapidly within the body. Many
drugs that exhibit mild hallucinogenic properties are commonly
classified as hallucinogens, including marijuana and MDMA. Drugs
that exhibit potent hallucinogenic properties are discussed below,
including, LSD, ketamine, peyote/mescaline, and mushrooms. |
|
|
| Synonyms:
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide |
|
| Drug Class:
Hallucinogen |
|
| Street
Names: Acid, Blotter, Microdots, Paper, Trips, Window
Panes |
|
| Description: LSD, commonly referred to as
"acid", is a very potent hallucinogen. It is manufactured from
lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye
and other grains. LSD is an odorless, colorless, liquid. This liquid
is typically added to absorbent paper, such as blotter paper, and
divided into small decorated squares, with each square representing
one dose. Less commonly, LSD is found in its pure liquid form. The
quantity of LSD found in recent illicit supplies ranges from 20 to
80 micrograms per dose. The maximum dosage for human beings is said
to be unknown. The effects of LSD are unpredictable. They
depend on the amount taken, the users personality, mood,
expectations, and the surroundings in which the drug is used.
Usually, the user feels the first effects of the drug 30 to 90
minutes after taking it. The physical effects include dilated
pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood
pressure, perspiration, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth,
and tremors. |
| Drug Class:
General
Anesthetic, Hallucinogen |
|
| Trade
Names: Ketalar |
|
| Street
Names: Cat Tranquilizer, K, Ket, Special K, Vitamin
K |
|
| Description: Ketamine is a general anesthetic
that has been approved for both human and animal use in medical
settings since 1970. Approximately 90% of the ketamine legally sold
is intended for veterinary use, which is liquid in form. The street
form is typically a white powder that is sniffed. Certain doses of
ketamine can cause dream-like states and hallucinations. At high
doses, ketamine can cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor
function, high blood pressure, depression, and potentially fatal
respiratory problems. Emergency room mentions of ketamine rose from
19 in 1994 to 396 in 1999, indicating a significant surge in its
popularity. |
|
|
| Synonyms:
Lophophora Williamsii |
|
| Drug Class:
Hallucinogen |
|
| Street
Names: Buttons, Mesc |
|
| Description: Peyote is a small, spineless cactus
whose principal active ingredient is the hallucinogen mescaline.
Peyote has been used by natives in northern Mexico and the
southwestern United States as a part of traditional religious rites.
The underside of the peyote cactus produces "buttons" that resemble
common mushrooms. The fleshy parts of the buttons are ground into a
fine powder for ingestion. A dose between 350 mg and 500 mg of
dried powder produces illusions and hallucinations lasting for
5 to 12 hours. Overall effects are similar to those of LSD.
Mescaline can be extracted from peyote or produced synthetically.
Street mescaline is typically synthetic. Today, members of the
Native American Church of North America still use the peyote cactus
in their religious rituals and rites. Their religious use of the
drug is exempt from portions of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse
Prevention and Control Act of 1970. But church members remain
prohibited from trafficking or distributing the peyote
cactus. |
|
|
| Drug Class:
Hallucinogen |
|
| Street
Names: Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms |
|
| Description: Psilocybin, and the related
chemical psilocin, are the active ingredients in several species of
mushrooms and other fungi that grow throughout the world. Psilocybin
is chemically related to both LSD and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In
the United States, hallucinogenic mushrooms are typically found
growing in cow manure during periods of moist weather. They are
normally eaten raw, but can also be boiled into a liquid form. The
overall effects of psilocybin are similar to those of LSD, including
dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and
blood pressure, perspiring, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry
mouth, and tremors. As with LSD, tolerance to psilocybin develops
quickly. There are no significant withdrawal symptoms from
hallucinogenic mushrooms and no physical dependence appears to take
place. There may be a strong desire to repeat the experience, which
could be indicative of some degree of psychological
dependence. |
| Depressants, also known
as sedatives, commonly abused in the club environment include GHB
and Rohypnol. These sedatives are highly potent. As a result, they
have earned the title "date rape drugs". GHB is discussed below. For
Rohypnol information, see Benzodiazepines. |
|
|
| Synonyms:
Gamma Hydroxybutyrate |
|
| Drug Class:
CNS
Depressant |
|
| Street
Names: Date Rape Drug, G, Liquid Ecstasy |
|
| Description: GHB is a potent central nervous
system (CNS) depressant. Prior to 1990, GHB was available in the
United States as an over-the-counter pill or powder, sold mostly in
health food stores. It was used by body builders to assist the
production of muscle-building growth hormones by the body. Though
there is no evidence to support this claim. In 1990, GHB was banned
by the FDA due to incidents of death and serious illness related to
its use. GHB is synthesized from fairly common chemicals and is
typically manufactured in "kitchen-sink" laboratories. It is
normally found as a clear liquid which is consumed orally and is
sold in small vials. GHB exhibits different properties at varying
dosages. In moderate doses, GHB acts euphorically, producing effects
similar to alcohol. In larger doses, GHB acts as a potent sedative,
often resulting in unconsciousness. The amount required to produce
the desired euphoric effects is dangerously near the amount that
results in unconsciousness. This factor is responsible for a high
incidence of GHB related emergency room episodes. It is also
responsible for GHBs use as a date rape drug. A significant dose is
easily poured into the drink of an unsuspecting victim without
notice. Thus, club goers should be forewarned not to leave drinks
unattended. |
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