Ecstasy

Introduction
Are club drugs safe?
Are club drugs addictive?
Is it safe to use a club drug in a small amount?
How do I know if my friends are taking club drugs?
Are there any other dangers from club drugs?

Ecstasy is a stimulant drug that can cause hallucinations. It is known as a designer drug because it is created for the purpose of making someone feel high. The drug is popular with teens and young adults who go to clubs, concerts, or "rave parties." Users think the drug will make them feel good and enable them to keep going for days without rest. But people who use Ecstasy don't realize how dangerous this drug actually is.

Ecstasy has become one of the most common illegal drugs sold on the streets. In the last few years, Ecstasy has sent many young people to emergency rooms because of its dangerous side effects. Ecstasy can kill.

The most common club drugs or ecstasy are MDMA ("Ecstasy"), GHB ("Liquid Ecstasy"), flunitrazepam ("Roofies") and ketamine ("Special K"). They have many other slang names. Club drugs make users feel more open and intimate, and less shy. They are popular in nightclubs, at parties and at raves (all-night dance parties).

No. Although most club drugs look like prescription medicines, they are made illegally and can cause harm. Often, these drugs are a mix of unknown products. Club drugs harm the brain and may cause memory problems. They can also cause physical problems such as loss of muscle control, blurred vision and seizures. Drugs such as MDMA are stimulants that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Taking drugs such as GBH can lead to breathing problems or loss of consciousness.

Ecstasy is both a hallucinogenic and a stimulant drug. It makes users experience a rush of good feelings (a high) and makes someone's feelings much more intense, whether they're good or bad. The drug's effects usually last up to 6 hours.

Ecstasy increases heart rate and can cause dry mouth, stomach cramps, blurred vision, chills, sweating, or nausea. It can make some users feel anxious, confused, and paranoid, like someone is trying to hurt them or is plotting against them. Scientists have recently proven that Ecstasy causes direct damage to brain cells that are involved in thinking and memory.

The drug can cause the salts and minerals in the blood to become dangerously diluted (thinned out), which can cause the brain to swell. Permanent brain damage can result.

If a person takes Ecstasy, his or her body can dangerously overheat during dancing or other physical activities, which can lead to death.

Yes. Many club drugs are types of methamphetamine ("meth"), which is very addictive. Ecstasy can be swallowed (pill or tablet) or snorted (powder). People also can become addicted to GHB and flunitrazepam. These drugs can cause severe and long-lasting symptoms.

No. People react differently to these drugs, and even a single pill can cause death in some people. Also, because they are made illegally, the strength of these drugs can vary from batch to batch.

Club drugs may cause people to get too hot. If a friend looks too hot or feels weak or sick, get him or her to a cool, quiet place as soon as you can. If the person is thirsty, give him or her a sports drink (like Gatorade), not plain water. If the person doesn't start feeling better, get medical help right away.

Club drugs often are used as "date rape" drugs. The following are things you can do to prevent someone from giving you a club drug without your knowledge:

• Always keep your drink with you.
• Never take a drink from someone you don't know and trust.
• Watch out for your friends' drinks.

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) is illegally produced in home basement labs, usually in the form of a liquid that has no odor or color. Sometimes Called as Liquid Ecstasy.

GHB causes both a euphoric high (intense rush of happy feelings) and hallucinations. GHB has caused many young people to need emergency medical care and has killed more users than the drug Ecstasy. Side effects of GHB use include throwing up (puking), breathing problems, dangerously decreased heart rate, and seizures. Overdosing on GHB can cause someone to pass out, go into a coma, and stop breathing within an hour. Using GHB can kill you.

Mixing GHB with alcohol is very, very dangerous and can be deadly - even if someone has only taken low doses of the drug.