Young people love to have a good time. Sometimes they’ll go to extremes — by introducing drugs that they think will help them have a better time by intensifying the experience. But these substances, known as party drugs, have dark effects that can alter the course of someone’s life. Party drugs act powerfully on the brain and central nervous system. They trigger cognitive changes, altering someone’s mood, judgment, and consciousness. They might feel great at the moment, but the use of these drugs can leave someone exposed and vulnerable. Parents and young people alike need to know about dangerous party drugs and take the right precautions.
What are Party Drugs?
Party drugs are psychoactive substances typically used by teenagers and young adults on nights out at parties, nightclubs, or other loud, busy, and high-energy events. They come with different names, including club drugs and designer drugs, and various street-based nicknames. Party drugs can be either stimulants or depressants. They get their name because young people view these drugs to enhance their enjoyment at parties. Unfortunately, party drugs can and are often abused. They have no odor and no color, which means they can be secretly added to someone’s drink without their knowledge. That’s the main reason why party drugs are also known as “date rape” drugs. The substances can render someone helpless to another’s advances. Some of the physical impairments possible with party/club drugs include:
- Loss of memory
- Cognitive difficulties
- Extreme sleepiness
- Disorientation
- Lack of muscle control
- Depressed breathing
Three Dangerous Party Drugs
Party drugs and club drugs can trigger severe consequences. Here are three of the most dangerous party drugs and the problems they cause:
- Ecstasy, also known by the name of “MDMA” or the street name of “Molly,” is an artificial compound with hallucinogenic and stimulating effects. Someone on ecstasy feels on top of the world — energetic, happy, and caring. Unfortunately, Ecstasy can cause dangerous spikes in body temperatures.
- Ketamine, also known as “special K” or “kit kat,” is a drug used as an anesthetic in treating animals. Ketamine can trigger paranoia, hallucinations, and periods of deliriousness or suicidal thinking.
- Methamphetamine, or meth, also called Speed or Ice or “rocket fuel,” is an extreme stimulant. It is also highly addictive. Meth leads to feelings of jumpiness, excitement, anger, and fear. Other physical effects include severe dental problems and itching.
Other common party drugs include LSD, Rohypnol, and GHB.
Addressing the Effects of Party Drugs
One reality about party drugs is that they are also considered “recreational” substances. It’s possible to develop an addiction, but rare. So that makes treatment a challenge. The effects of party drugs typically appear during visits to doctors or emergency rooms, when people seek help for the immediate physiological effects or go for help after a sexual or physical assault. Some substances do indeed cause addictions, which can be treated at a rehab center such as Destinations for Teens.
Getting Help at Destinations for Teens
Party drugs pose significant dangers for teens and young adults. While addiction may or may not be a byproduct of their use, young people can depend on Destinations for Teens for support. Destinations for Teens offers residential and outpatient teen treatment programs for young people and support for their whole family to understand the best way to steer a younger person back to sobriety. In addition to a full suite of drug and alcohol treatment, our accredited staff at Destinations for Teens delivers therapy for mental health concerns. From detox to counseling and aftercare, they advocate for young people in bringing their lives back to stability. To learn more, contact Destinations for Teens at 877.466.0620.