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The substances commonly taken at raves and dance parties are known as club drugs, designer drugs, or party drugs. Many of them are synthesized specifically as energy boosters for party environments. Unfortunately, teenagers often do not consider the life-threatening consequences of designer drug abuse.

Dangers of Club Drug Abuse

The effects of substance abuse are even more detrimental to teens than they are to adults. Your teen's brain is still developing, so if they abuse club drugs like LSD, brain damage can occur. Most club drugs are addictive - mentally, physically, or both. And most tragically of all, some teenagers have even died from abusing party drugs.

The detrimental effects of teen drug abuse are especially pronounced in party settings, where drug mixing often takes place. Though club drugs have long since been available to teens, rave culture has contributed significantly to their popularity.

Raves were a mainstay of adolescent life in the 1990s, and they've made a tremendous resurgence in the 2010s. Today's raves contrast with the small, spontaneous basement raves of the '90s - they are massive, publicly promoted and can last for days. These parties are known for their loud, pulsating music and flashing lights. Attendees usually spend most of their time dancing and moving - energizing, mind-altering club drugs are taken to enhance this experience.

What Are Designer Drugs and Club Drugs?

Many club drugs are hallucinogens, which can cause visual and audial disturbances. Other party substances can boost sensations of closeness and sensuality, easing any discomfort from the tight confines of a dance floor.

There are several types of designer drugs you should be aware of, many of which are among of the most common club drugs among adolescents today:

MDMA (Ecstasy)

These pills cause euphoria that lasts for 3-6 hours and users are compelled to trust and touch everyone they meet. It is frightening to consider the potential consequences for the nearly 6% of high school seniors who have used this drug. While ecstasy abuse may begin in rave situations, some teens develop a compulsion to use more often. It is not unusual for teens to require ecstasy addiction treatment.

LSD (Acid)

This profoundly mind-altering drug impacts the brain, causing intense hallucinations and emotions that do not fit the situation. LSD abuse causes teens to see things that aren't there.

Rohypnol

While "roofies" are most notorious for being rape drugs, some teens intentionally take Rohypnol to for its sedative effects. Studies have shown that teens use Rohypnol and, eventually - through habitual use - dependence and addiction can occur. Because illness can happen if a teen attempts cold-turkey stoppage of Rohypnol, treatment or professional detox may be needed.

GHB

The liquid drug gamma-Hydroxybutyrate acid (or GHB) provides a sense of relaxation. As with Rohypnol, teens use GHB as a date rape drug. It impacts some of the same receptors as alcohol, resulting in euphoria, dizziness, and loss of motor control.

Ketamine

Veterinarians use ketamine as an anesthetic during some painful or stressful procedures. The drug's sedative qualities render it an appealing party drug choice, but it can slow breathing to the point of death. Despite its life-threatening risks, teen ketamine abuse is on the rise.

Methamphetamine (Speed)

This drug, made more famous by the hit show Breaking Bad, can exponentially increase energy. Teens use meth to party and feel as if they have superpowers - using the drug allows teens to stay awake for days on end. Meth is highly addictive, and even one use can invite physical and mental dependence.

Does Your Teen Need Drug Addiction Treatment?

You may be here because your child has been showing drug use symptoms. Whether you believe your teen has been abusing alcohol, traditional drugs or club drugs, treatment may be necessary. The good news is that you do not have to go through this alone - we are here for you.

At Next Generation Village, teens face their addictions within the serenity of our lakeside Florida campus, which offers stunning pink sunsets over the water and the whisper of palm trees in the gentle Florida breeze. Your child always has access to our experienced team of doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, therapists and mental health professionals.

We have built individualized adolescent drug treatment programs that use both evidence-based and traditional therapies. This model provides your teen with a holistic treatment that addresses the roots of the addiction, not just the behaviors. We pour our minds and hearts into your child's recovery - we celebrate their victories and help them through their challenges. We are with them every step of the way.

Your child's journey back to wellness begins with a phone call. Make today the day your family's lives change - just get in touch.

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Teen Club Drug Abuse: Facts & Treatment Options

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The substances commonly taken at raves and dance parties are known as club drugs, designer drugs, or party drugs. Many of them are synthesized specifically as energy boosters for party environments. Unfortunately, teenagers often do not consider the life-threatening consequences of designer drug abuse.

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Drug + Alcohol Rehab | Mental Health Counseling | Charlotte NC | Columbus OH | Raleigh | Asheville | Wilmington

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Welcome back! Over the course of the past few blog posts we've been talking about the different classes of drugs and what to expect if you, or someone you know, decides to use them for recreational purposes, rather than what they're intended for. Below, we talk about two different types, depressants and hallucinogens.

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Amobarbital

Butalbital

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

Clonazepam

Codeine

Diazepam (valium)

Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)

Heroin

Lorazepam

Methadone

Midazolam

Morphine

Nitrazepam

Oxycodone/ Oxycontin

Pentobarbital

Pethidine

Phenobarbital

Secobarbital

Talbutal

Temazepam

Thiamylal

Thiopental

When depressants are used regularly a tolerance can build up causing the need for more drugs. Individuals can also develop a physical and psychological dependency.

Side Effects of Using Depressants

Addiction

Confusion

Depression

Difficulty or inability to urinate

Dilated pupils

Disorientation, lack of coordination

Dizziness

Fatigue

Fever

Lowered blood pressure

Poor concentration

Slow brain function

Slowed pulse and breathing

Sluggishness

Slurred speech

Visual disturbances

According to drugfreeworld.com, "Higher doses can cause impairment of memory, judgment and coordination, irritability, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. Some people experience the opposite of the intended effect, such as agitation or aggression."

The website also states that "Using sedatives (drugs used to calm or soothe) and tranquilizers with other substances, particularly alcohol, can slow breathing and the heart rate and even lead to death."

Hallucinogens |Drug Treatment in Charlotte NC

According to drugabuse.org, "Many hallucinogens have chemical structures similar to those of natural neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine-, serotonin-, or catecholamine-like). While the exact mechanisms by which hallucinogens exert their effects remain unclear, research suggests that these drugs work, at least partially, by temporarily interfering with neurotransmitter action or by binding to their receptor sites."

Types of Hallucinogens

Side Effects

Anxiety, agitation, paranoia and feelings of panic

Blurred vision

Confusion

Difficulty concentrating, thinking or maintaining attention

Disorganized thoughts

Dizziness

Feelings of euphoria

Hallucinations and distorted perception, including visual, auditory, body, time and space

Increased body temperature and sweating, may alternate with chills and shivering

Increased breathing rate

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Irregular heartbeat, palpitations

Loss of coordination

Nausea and vomiting

Numbness

Sense of relaxation and well-being

Using these types of drugs can only do harm to the body and mind. While short term effects of using these drugs are bad, long term effects of using them are significantly worse. It's important to refrain from using them at all.

Are you suffering from an addiction and aren't sure where to turn next? Regardless of how bad your drug or alcohol use has become, drug treatment in Charlotte NC is always available. You're not alone in this. Recovery is just a phone call or visit away. Contact Legacy Freedom to learn about drug rehab and our highly successful outpatient therapy. We are here to help you get back on track to a healthier, happier life.

For more information about the different drug categories and more, visit with other blogs in this series, below:

Drug Categories: An Introduction

Drug Categories: Narcotics

Drug Categories: Stimulants

Drug Categories: Depressants and Hallucinogens

Drug Categories: Anabolic Steroids

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Drug Treatment in Charlotte NC | Depressants and Hallucinogens

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Welcome back! Over the course of the past few blog posts we've been talking about the different classes of drugs and what to expect if you, or someone you know, decides to use them for recreational purposes, rather than what they're intended for. Below, we talk about two different types, depressants and hallucinogens.

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Meet the stimulants

Stimulants can be prescription medications, including:

Or stimulants can also include illicit substances such as:

Misusing stimulants, whether prescription medications or illicit drugs, can lead to addiction. Addiction is when you continue to seek out and take stimulants even though you know it is damaging you health and life, ruining your relationships, and causing you problems in school or at work.

How do they work?

How do stimulants work? Stimulants work by acting on the central nervous system (CNS) to increase a user's alertness and cognitive function. They make you feel more alert and focused. However, stimulants also raise your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.

Who uses stimulants?

In 2012, there were an estimated 1.2 million nonmedical users (aged 12+) of prescription stimulants in the United States.

Stimulant abuse and addiction is most common among adults aged 26 and older. In fact, about 63% of stimulant users are older than 26 years...which means they represent a significant part of the country's workforce. How many of these stimulant users are employed? Here is a breakdowns of statistics by employment status of stimulant users:

38% are employed

30% are only part-time employed

15% are unemployed

17% are out of the labor force

Still, age is a factor for use. In 2011, less than one in ten adolescents reported using Ritalin or Adderall nonmedically during the year prior to being surveyed. Among adolescents, the nonmedical use of stimulant drug is either due to recreational reasons, or they use them as 'smart drugs' to improve performance in school. The nonmedical use of prescription stimulants is more common among college students than high school students. Studies have found that 4.1% to 10.8% of college students reported using prescription stimulants nonmedically during the past year.

The face of stimulant addiction questions

Think you've got a personal problem with stimulants?

Know someone who needs help?

You can contact your primary care physician or family doctor, a school counselor, your psychologist, or licensed psychiatrist for referral to adequate stimulant addiction treatment. OR Call our Helpline at 1-877-688-2356 to get free and confidential suggestions about rehab options.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them in the comments section at the bottom of the page. We try to answer all legitimate inquiries personally and promptly, or we will refer you to professionals who can help.

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The face of stimulant addiction: Who uses stimulants? (INFOGRAPHIC)

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Stimulants can be prescription medications, including: Or stimulants can also include illicit substances such as: Misusing stimulants, whether prescription medications or illicit drugs, can lead to addiction. Addiction is when you continue to seek out and take stimulants even though you know it is damaging you health and life, ruining your relationships, and causing you problems in school or at work.

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Many psychoactive drugs trugger activity in the brain along a path of cells known as the "reward pathway".  Drugs produce extra dopamine which causes extra pleasurable sensations. Some of the drugs combined with the chemical dopamine could have serious consequences such as ignoring the harmful effects of the drugs. Additionally, it can lead to intense craving of the drug and may cause the user to build a tolerance to natural dopamine levels so they are not able to be happy from normal activities. Because users want the drug so badly, they can become addicted to it to get the same effect as before. By flooding the reward pathway, the body wants the drug intensely which could result in major addiction.

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Marijuana is a drug made from the leaves, stems, and tops of the Cannabis sativa plant. It has many common  streetnames such as pot, dope, weed, and grass. When it is in a pipe, it is known as a joint or blunt. It can be smoked or eaten with food. Short term effects can include severe anciety, strange behavior, panic, hallucinations, increase of stroke, and loss of personal identity while long term effects can be a decline in IQ, impaired thinking, lower life satisfaction, addition, and antisocial behavior.

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Another type of drug are called club drugs because of their popularity in dance clubs. Some club drugs include methahphetamine and hallucigens. Street names include cat valium and forget-me pill. However, it all depends on the drugs that are used. Street names include cat valium and forget-me pill. However, it all depends on the drugs that are used. Some short term effects can be impaired judgement, confusion, depression, paranoia, muscle tension, and blurred vision. Long term effects include brain damage, kidney failurem depression, memory loss, and psychosis.

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Another type of drug is called hallucinogen which distorts perception, thought, and mood. It overloads the brain with sensory information, causing a distorted sense of reality. One of the most popular and strongest known hallucinogen is LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide. It can either stimilate or depress the central nervous system. Street names include acid, blotter, boomers, doses, dots, hippie, tab, and window pane. LSD can be taken orally in form of liquid or a pill. Short term effects can be high-blood pressure, hallucinations, dilated pupils, sleeplessness, sweating, and paranoia. Long term effects include flashbacks, vision problems, mood swings, psychosis, panic attacks, and depression.

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Unlike depressants, stimulants are drugs that speed up activity in the central nervous system and can increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and alertness. One such drug is amphetamines which is a group of powerful stimulants that can produce feelings of well-being and high energy but can wear off quickly leaving users feeling depressed. Streetnames include bennies, ampes, benzies, cartwheels, speed, uppers, sparkles, and footballs. They can be swallowed, snorted, injected, and smoked. Some short term effects are restlessness, rapid speech, blurred vision, and dizziness while long term effects include hyperactivity, irritability, irregular heart beat, liver damage, and paranoia.

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Depressants are drugs that decrease heart and breathing rate as well as blood pressure. One major depressant is barbiturates which can be used to relax a person but when used in high doses can induce sleep.  Some street names include yellow jackets, yellows, red birds, reds, Barbs, Tooies, and phennies. They are normally taken as capsuls and swallloned. However, they can be injected but this style is very dangerous. Some short term effects can be relief from insomnia as well as relief from anxiety. Users can also have poor cordination, slurred speech, and decreased alertness. Over a long period of time, users can suffer from sleepiness, irritablity, and confusion.