The Dangers of Club Drugs and how Sunrise House can Help

There are times in an individual’s life when they feel invincible. Like they can do anything, be anything, and risk anything, regardless of consequences that they believe to be trivial to non-existent. This can be the case when an individual is battling an alcohol or drug addiction. And “club drugs” come with their own set of consequences that may get overshadowed by the glitz of nightclub life.

Sunrise House Treatment Center, an American Addiction Centers’ facility, treats individuals addicted to club drugs, alcohol, and many other substances. Sunrise House is located across 22 acres in the state of New Jersey. It’s a facility that provides research-based programs and is CARF certified, which means that we are dedicated to serving the community, to an ongoing improvement of services, and we support receiving feedback.

Club drugs earned their names because they are often used at parties, dance clubs, raves, and nightclubs. Individuals who frequent these establishments (or events) feel these drugs enhance the overall experience. They enable the user to experience a heightened sense of empathy and to be more talkative due to them causing sociability and euphoria. They may also alter perceptions of sound and increase an individual’s energy levels.

Common club drugs include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Ketamine is a dissociative drug, rightfully named because it causes a feeling of detachment from the outside world, one’s body, and self.
• MDMA (ecstasy) makes users of the drug feel loving and very happy. It also enhances their perception of colors and their sense of touch.
• LSD is a hallucinogen that can modify an individual’s perceptions, sensations, and awareness. It’s often used for its visual hallucinations.
• GHB, usually consumed in liquid form, is a depressant used to treat narcolepsy. However, as a club drug, at low doses it causes stimulant effects. Higher doses cause depressant effects. This is also known as a “date rape drug.”
• Rohypnol is used to treat severe insomnia. It’s illegal in most areas and is classified as a benzodiazepine. The effects are about the same as alcohol, causing impaired coordination and drowsiness. This is also known as a “date rape drug.”
• Methamphetamine is a stimulant that causes a surge of activity and energy, which inevitably doesn’t last that long. Individuals who use meth describe the experience as feeling “invincible.”

Out of the six drugs listed, MDMA is usually the most used as a club drug, and methamphetamine is as well. However, meth is not always necessarily connected to the nightclub lifestyle. Unfortunately, many of these drugs are consumed by young people who happen to not be educated on the dangers of using any of these drugs, including the risk of overdosing or becoming addicted to any of them.

At the end of the day, substances that modify the brain and are abused over a period of time can be detrimental to the individual using the substance. This is true for club drugs, alcohol, and other drugs as well. If you find that you’re struggling with a substance addiction, Sunrise House Treatment Center provides exceptional treatment programs to help you to live a productive and healthy life in recovery.