JUST THE FACTS
Club Drugs
Q: What are Club Drugs?
A: There are many different kinds of “Club Drugs”. Some of the more popular ones are GHB (also called G or Liquid X), Ketamine (also called K, ket, special K, vitamin K, cat valium), Rohypnol (also called roofies, rope, roche, the forget-me pill).
These drugs are also known as Rape Drugs.
Rape Drugs come in many forms: pills, powder, or liquid, and are often tasteless, odorless, and colorless, making them easy to hide and difficult to detect in a drink. Some common effects of unwanted drugging include: unexplained sleepiness, loss of coordination, confusion, dizziness, passing out, or blackouts.
Q: How can you be safe from being drugged?
A: Because most people drug others by slipping stuff into your drink keep an eye on your drink. Get your own drinks from servers you trust. Be aware that alcohol impairs judgment and awareness. Stay with people you know and trust, especially if you plan on drinking alcohol. Watch out for each other. Plan ahead. Talk to your friends and figure out what you will do if you think someone has been drugged.
Q: What can you do if you think you’ve been Drugged?
A: If you’ve been drugged get to a safe place. If you’re getting a ride, be sure it’s with someone you trust. Get the medical attention you need it. Any hospital emergency room can help with the effects of the drugs. For drug testing, try to bring a sample of your drink.
If you think you’ve been sexually assaulted, hospital staff can help with the effects of the assault, sexually transmitted infections, and possible pregnancy. Call a 24-hour sexual assault centre crisis line. It is anonymous and confidential. Volunteers will give emotional support and more information about medical options or reporting to the police.
Q: How dangerous are these Drugs?
A: These drugs are very dangerous. Like all man made drugs, you don’t know what you are really getting or how strong the drug is. Because most of these drugs are odorless and colorless people can easily sneak them into your drink without you knowing it. The difference between getting high and a coma resulting from an overdose could be as little as one drop.
Q: What happens if you mix these Drugs with other Drugs?
A: Taken with other drugs, including alcohol, greatly increases the risk of overdose and death. More than 80% of all club drug deaths involve alcohol, making it a very dangerous combination.
Boosting (taking more while already high) is even riskier.
Q: What effects do these drugs have on your body?
A: Little is known about the long-term effects of these drugs. Some of the regular use effects are sleepiness, disoriented, dizziness and loss of coordination, nausea and vomiting, seizures, loss of bladder control (you may pee your pants), diarrhea, sudden and dangerous drop in blood pressure, heart rate, or breathing, loss of consciousness, coma, or death.
© Watari Youth Day Treatment Program
Adapted from 2001-2002 AADAC – Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, corp.aadac.com
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