Club Drugs

Club drugs are a diverse group of recreational drugs that are used primarily by teenagers and young adults at raves, dance parties, nightclubs, and concerts. Although the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy categorizes only 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) (Ecstasy or Molly), gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), Rohypnol (Roofies), and ketamine (Special K) as club drugs, the specific drugs vary greatly by country and region. They may also include lysergic acid diethylamide, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, nitrous oxide, and amyl nitrate. Despite wide use of the term, there is no agreed-upon definition of what constitutes a “club drug.” Concurrent polydrug use is the norm, and club drugs often are combined with alcohol, which intensifies the dangerous effects of these drugs. Both GHB and Rohypnol gained notoriety in the press ...