More on Club Drugs

Ecstasy and GHB

By Harvey Lee

An empty warehouse has cases of empty water bottles stacked at the back door. Yes, there was a rave here last night. Why the stacks of empty water bottles? Because drugs like ecstasy are widely used at raves to heighten sensory effects.

Ecstasy increases body temperatures to as much as 110°F. Dehydration is common, and attempts to reverse the drug’s effect can be lethal. Recent research suggests that ecstasy’s damaging effects on memory may be long term.

Another common drug found at raves is GHB. This depressant affects the central nervous system, intoxicating those who take it and putting them to sleep. GHB is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It’s easy to slip GHB into a drink without being noticed. For these reasons, GHB is known as the “date rape” drug.

By learning about teen culture and sharing information about the possible consequences of risky behavior, parents can help protect their teens. Take a moment to read this column with your son or daughter and then visit any of the following URLs.

For More Information
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. (2001, April 6). Ecstasy [1]: ER and mortality rates surge. CSAP Prevention Alert 4(7). Available at www.health.org/govpubs/prevalert/v4/7.htm

O’Connell, T., Kaye, L., Pharm, D., & Plosay, J. J. (2000, December 1). Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB): A newer drug of abuse. American Family Physician 62(11), 2478-2484. Available at www.aafp.org/afp/20001201/2478.html

Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2002, May 17). Club drugs. Available at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.
gov/drugfact/club/club_b.html

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