What Are Club Drugs?

Party life can introduce you to many unique people, places, and circumstances. Oftentimes, adult nightlife comes with risky behavior along with a smorgasbord of substances to choose from, like club drugs. Club drugs are a group of substances that can alter a person's mental state. Despite their reputation for enhancing the senses and making social events and experiences more vivid, these drugs can also alter other functions of the body. 

Unfortunately, club drugs can also be used to take advantage of others. There is a higher risk of experiencing or enacting sexual assault and other violent acts while using any of these drugs. There is a broad spectrum of club drugs that are available on the market. Due to their unpredictability, it is best to avoid the risk by choosing not to use them at all. 

Understanding Club Drugs

Club drugs are a group of psychoactive drugs used in party settings. These drugs have varying effects on the central nervous system by heightening or suppressing certain feelings and functions in the mind and body. 

Most club drugs have various names that change with popular culture. However, some of the more popular club drugs include: 

• MDMA (also known as molly or ecstasy) 
• LSD (acid)
• Ketamine
• Rohypnol (roofies)
• Methampethines 

Club drugs are used for the effects that they have on the mind and body. These drugs have different effects on emotions, perception, and thoughts, depending on the chemical type. The most readily available club drugs are categorized as:

• Stimulants
• Hallucinogens
• Depressants

The difference between club drugs and traditional prescription drugs is that club drugs aren't manufactured in a lab with specific health and safety protocols. Rather, they are sold illicitly on the street.

As a result, it is possible to receive club drugs at higher or lower doses than expected, which can potentially cause a bad trip. It is also possible for club drugs to be mixed with unknown substances, which can also have unprecedented effects on your health. 

Although club drugs are not particularly as addictive as other substances, they can still pose significant risks to your health. Uninformed short-term use, as well as long-term use of these drugs, can potentially harm your health. 

What Are the Potential Effects of Club Drugs?

Using club drugs can harm your body in the short and long term. Short-term effects include:

• Restlessness
• Jitters, teeth clenching, muscle tension
• Nausea
• Audiovisual hallucinations 
• Chills or sweating
• Increased heart rate
• Altered perception, changes in vision and hearing 
• Altered mood
• Impulsivity 

Long-term, club drugs can potentially lead to or exacerbate heart, liver, and kidney problems. Being that club drugs are psychoactive, they can also contribute to the development of nervous system disorders such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety.

Club drugs are experimental and can pose a variety of risks depending on your physical and mental health, medical history, and genes. If a person chooses to mix multiple substances at a time, there are even greater risks to consider before continuing. 

It is also possible for a person to unknowingly mix substances if they are already taking prescription medications of any kind. It is important to be extra cautious about club drugs and other substances if you have any medical concerns. 

Dangers of Mixing Club Drugs

The effects of mixing various substances can be unpredictable and possibly even fatal. Some potential risks to consider before mixing substances include: 

• Strengthened symptoms when mixing similar drugs, such as stimulants with stimulants, depressants with depressants
• Mixing different substances can mask the effects of one or the other substances present 
• Impaired functioning 
• Poor decision making 
• Higher chance of overdose or death 
• Unpredictable mood swings and personality changes 
• Greater chance of car accidents, legal trouble, and other unsafe activities 

Mixing substances would include drinking coffee, alcohol, or smoking cannabis while consuming any other substances. Considering the nature of club drugs, it seems clear they are risky substances to indulge in. 

Can Club Drugs Affect my Mental Health?

It can be hard to avoid these substances when they are becoming more culturally relevant. Similar to alcohol, the use of club drugs has become increasingly popular with references throughout pop culture. 

Club drugs are designed to alter or enhance perception in various ways, making it hard to think clearly and act with caution. Club drugs are used to help people feel good and feel more present. With an altered mental state, it is more likely to do or say things out of character and potentially trigger violent or otherwise unsafe situations.

Taking drugs that impair your physical functions can also leave you vulnerable to predatory people. Despite the fun that is associated with club drugs, there are plenty of people that are willing to take advantage of someone who is simply trying to have a good time. 

Unfortunately, Rohypnol or roofies are another well-known club drug often placed in unattended drinks to initiate a sexual assault on an unsuspecting victim. 

Staying away from club drugs will help you keep a clear head as you navigate nightlife. It can be helpful to have a trusted friend who can join you so that you can keep an eye on each other. 

If you or a loved one are struggling with club drugs or curious about the effects of their use, West Coast Recovery Centers is here to help. With detox support and various holistic healing modalities available, you can overcome any of your mental health challenges. 

Club drugs are often presented as a way to help jumpstart the fun at social events. However, there are potential dangers that can come from using these drugs in combination with other substances or as long-term party aids. Learning how to navigate social situations without substances can take time, but it is possible. West Coast Recovery Centers is here to offer support and resources to help you identify and understand your needs. If you or a loved one are using club drugs or any other substances, call us at (760) 492-6509 for one of our team members to connect you to the right resources. It's possible to have fun while sober.