RISE Blog | Party Drugs: A Crash Course

By: Kai McDonald, Peer Educator
February 10th, 2023

TW: This article briefly covers subjects of sexual assault and rape; reader discretion is advised.

College is a big transition for many students. It's a time in which students are exposed to new experiences they may not have had at home, and it can throw a lot at you, whether it be social groups, new hobbies, routines, or even parties – all these experiences can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate or fully understand.

You may have heard phrases like, “don't mess around with drugs”, “watch your cup if you go to a party”, or “college is full of drugs and drinking.” These warnings do hold some merit, especially regarding the dangers of drugs. If you know the basics on party drugs and their dangers, that's great! If you are lost or have little-to-no knowledge about party drugs, that's okay too! This blog will serve as a quick crash course on party drugs and their risks, so you can be safe next time you decide to go out.

Let's clear up a common misconception.

It's easy to assume that party drugs are all about cannabis and alcohol, which they can be, but there is a more extensive list of party drugs (also called Club Drugs) to look out for.

Some common party drugs and their nicknames are:

Methamphetamine: Crystal Meth, Meth, Ice, Crystal, Speed, Tina, Crank
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Ecstasy, Molly, X, E, M&M, XTC, Adam, Bean, Clarity, Roll, Essence
Phencyclidine (PCP): Angel Dust, Lovely, Love Boat
Ketamine: Special K, K
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: LSD, Acid, Mellow Yellow
Cocaine: Coke, Charlie
Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate: GHB, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X
Rohypnol: Roofies, Ruffies, Rophies

What are the uses?

Most party drugs are considered psychoactive substances. This means that they target your brain and central nervous system to get you high and put you in a modified mood and mindset. They alter your surroundings, affect decision-making, and increase energy levels. The exceptions to this are GHB and Rohypnol, which are particularly used as “date rape” drugs. They are often slipped into drinks or in some cases discretely injected into a person with a small needle. These drugs severely impair an individual, making them vulnerable and at risk of any form of assault, which is why you should always be aware of your surroundings.

Why are they so dangerous?

Different party drugs have unique effects, but since this is a quick crash course, we will cover the similar short-term and long-term effects they share. Short-term, party drugs impair your senses, coordination, judgment, memory, and the brain's neurons. Users have often reported that they don't remember anything after being influenced by party drugs. Physically, you can lose muscle and motor control, experience blurred vision, and increase blood pressure and heart rate. These physical effects also put you at extreme risk of seizures and/or heart and kidney failure. Awareness of your surroundings is often impaired, sometimes so severely that certain party drugs, especially roofies and GHB, can completely immobilize you or make you unconscious. Since the short-term effects of party drugs severely impact the mind and body, you're at a greater risk of engaging in risky behaviors such as unsafe sex, driving under the influence, or acting in out-of-character ways.

Long-term effects of party drugs can easily take over your life, both mentally and physically. They are often highly addictive, difficult to stop, and make any pre-existing mental health conditions worse. It is also extremely easy to overdose on party drugs whose effects are made worse when combined with alcohol or other drugs, which is fairly common practice. Often, people will use more than one drug at a time, and whether it be intentionally or unintentionally, this practice can have unpredictable and dangerous effects, such as strokes, comas, and in extreme circumstances, death.

Even if you get through physical and mental effects and recover, there is still another caveat: Party drugs are illegal. Getting caught just once can have devastating marks on your record, including potential jail time. It only takes one time of wanting to experience temporary “party drug fun” to create permanent consequences. Ask yourself, “Are the couple hours of being high worth my physical and mental health? Is it worth the risk of a bad record or jail time? Is it potentially worth my life?”

What can I do to stay safe?

While party drug symptoms can vary depending on the person, drug, and dosage, most share common symptoms and set in about 10-20 minutes after use. If you are worried you or a friend might have ingested one of these drugs by mistake (or intentionally), look out for these symptoms and seek help:

Drowsiness
Dizziness
Blurred Vision
Vomiting
Loss of Muscle Control
Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
Trouble breathing
Aggressive behavior
Hallucinations
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Chills
Slurred Speech
Overheating

Reducing the Risk of Accidental Ingestion

There are many ways to reduce the risks of party drugs. Consider the following when you go out.

Be vigilant and cautious of your surroundings and personal items.
Don't accept drinks or food from strangers, and don't drink or eat anything you didn't open yourself.
Always keep your open drinks close with you and cover them if possible if you have to turn away.
Utilize a buddy system, go out with close friends, and keep an eye on each other's drinks.
In large crowds, if you feel a sharp prick anywhere on your body, leave with a trusted friend immediately and monitor yourself to make sure you weren't injected with anything.

College is a time for enjoying a lot of new experiences and that's completely normal! RISE is here to help educate and ensure the safety and wellness of students so that you can go out safely and have fun. If you or a friend wants to know more about these drugs, you can reach out to RISE or view our resource sheet on drugs. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, feel free to reach out to our resources.