dance party drugs
ecstasy mdma [E, XTC, Eccy, and the Love Drug]
Ecstasy is similar in structure and effect to amphetamines and hallucinogens.
Amphetamines are stimulants that speed up activity in the nervous system.
Hallucinogens, such as LSD, typically affect perception and can cause things to be seen or heard that don’t really exist, or are distorted.
After using Ecstasy some or all of the following symptoms may occur: insomnia, depression, anxiety, paranoia, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, dehydration or water retention problems.
ghb [gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Easy lay, Fantasy, Liquid E, Date rape drug]
GHB is a depressant drug with both sedative and anaesthetic properties.
The immediate effects of GHB occur approximately 15 minutes after use and include increased sense of touch, drowsiness, feeling of well being and headaches.
Higher doses of GHB lead to rapid drowsiness, unconsciousness, muscle tension, convulsions, respiratory distress and possibly death.
There appears to be little margin between the correct dose and an overdose of GHB.
GHB is commonly used in the dance and clubs cultures.
GHB can cause amnesia and has been implicated in drink spiking offences, due to its colourless and odourless liquid form.
party pills [Charge, ESP, Euphoria, Frenzy, Jump, Rapture]
From 1 April 2008, BZP became a Class C1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This makes it illegal to make, sell, import, export, possess or use and has the same penalties as cannabis use.
The main active ingredients in these pills are benzylpiperazine and/or trifluromethylpiperazine, which produces a similar effect to Ecstasy and amphetamines.
Although these pills can be derived from the pepper plant, hence the prefix ‘herbal’, almost all of these so-called ‘herbal’ party pills on the market are manufactured synthetically.
Little is known about the long-term effects of party pills.
People are at risk of toxicity from the pills because there is a tendency for them not to read the instructions before ingestion, or they take more pills than recommended or drink alcohol at the same time.
amphetamines [Speed or Go-eey]
Amphetamines belong to a group of drugs called ‘psycho stimulants’ These drugs stimulate the central nervous system. They speed up the messages going to and from the brain to the body.
People use amphetamines for different reasons. Some use the drugs to get ‘high’ and dance all night. Others use the drugs to stay awake for long periods of time, to improve performance in sport or at work, or to boost their self-esteem.
As the effects of amphetamines begin to wear off, a person may experience a range of symptoms including uncontrolled violence, tension, radical mood swings, depression and total exhaustion.
Amphetamines can cause anxiety, agitation and a lost sense of reality.
