by Joe Knight

Created on: May 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2007

"Club Drugs"

Teenagers from all socioeconomic backgrounds have demonstrated an increase in experimentation and use of various synthetic substances designed to enhance their overall experience when attending a party known as a "rave".

A rave is an all-night dance party usually held at a large dance club or at a rented warehouse. These parties attract hundreds to thousands of participants and often include special effects such as lighting, lasers, smoke, professional dancers, confetti, etc. Most commonly, the disc jockey (DJ) fills the room with trance music, so named for its unending repetition of musical phrases and rhythms.

A significant part of "rave culture" involves the availability of and experimentation with synthetic drugs designed to augment the trance music and the visual stimulation provided by the club. There are many drugs used by today's teenagers and young people as part of the rave scene. Four of the most common drugs are MDMA, also known as "Ecstacy", ketamine, GHB and methamphetamine.
This article is meant to be a basic introduction to help parents and care givers understand these substances so they can better discuss the risks of these drugs with their kids.

MDMA (Ecstasy)

MDMA is an amphetamine that acts as a stimulant and also causes mild hallucinations. It is sold on the street or in clubs as Ecstasy. Other street names for the drug are "E", "X", "XTC", "Love" or "Hug Drug". Although the drug has been illegal since the 1980s, it is commonly imported from the Netherlands and Belgium, with increasing home production in the United States. Ecstasy is generally sold as a pill with the maker's "brand name" imprinted on the pill. These pills rarely contain pure MDMA, and, like many illegal street substances, they can be "cut" with other drugs such as caffeine or ephedrine to enhance their effects. A study called the Monitoring of the Future of 10th and 12th graders showed that Ecstasy use dropped between 2001 and 2004, but that the prevalence of use among 12th graders is still significant at 7.5%.

Once Ecstasy is swallowed, the brain undergoes an increase in the stimulation of numerous arousal pathways. Initially, there is an increase in heart rate, increase in blood pressure, increase in temperature, jaw clenching and blurred vision. An hour after swallowing, most of the unpleasant effects are replaced by a feeling of euphoria that can last for 3 to 4 hours. A hallmark of Ecstasy use is a profound feeling of "connectedness" with people; this is obviously

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