Club Drugs Statistics and Addiction Rates in California

Ecstasy

Ecstasy, also called X, hug beans, love drug, E, XTC, and Adam, is a stimulant drug with hallucinogenic properties that increases energy, stimulation, pleasure, and sensations while also speeding up respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate; increasing body temperature; and decreasing the need to eat or sleep. Ecstasy abuse was once rampant, in big cities in particular, although its popularity seems to be waning in recent years. Juvenile arrestees in the San Diego area tested positive for MDMA 47 percent of the time in calendar year (CY) 2011, but only 34 percent in CY 2012.[5] In San Diego County, in 2014, there was only one reported death from MDMA.[6]

Raves are popular venues for drug abuse and ecstasy in particular. In Los Angeles County, a New Year’s Eve rave in 2009 led to 18 people seeking emergency department (ED) treatment for MDMA exposure and three of them being admitted to the hospital.[7] Many times, ecstasy is used in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and 13 of these cases in Los Angeles County involved another psychoactive substance.[8]

A version of MDMA often heralded as “pure” is Molly, which is generally anything but pure. It may be mixed with a variety of different toxins, making it extremely hard to know what is in the drug and therefore making it potentially very dangerous. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) tested 143 Molly seizures between October 2009 and September 2013 and found that only 13 percent of them actually contained MDMA.[9] Both Molly and traditional ecstasy are manufactured in illicit laboratories and may contain a variety of other “additives” the user may be unaware of that may have unintentional and negative side effects.

Ketamine, GHB, and Rohypnol

An anesthetic drug with properties similar to PCP when abused, Ketamine can distort reality, causing hallucinations, amnesia, impaired motor functions, and irregular blood pressure and respiration levels. It may be used as a date rape drug. Called Special K, Vitamin K, kit-kat, super K, and super acid, Ketamine is mostly used legally in veterinary medicine but may also be used recreationally as a club drug illicitly.

Rohypnol is considered illegal in the United States by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as it may also be used as a date rape drug due to its sedative and amnesia-producing properties.[10] Rohypnol, called roofies, forget-me-pill, La Roche, and roach, is manufactured in a green tablet with blue specks so that when dissolved in drinks at clubs or parties, it may dye the drink blue, although generic versions of the drug may not have the same effect.[11] Rohypnol is a central nervous system depressant and slows down heart rate, body temperature, respiration, and blood pressure. It may commonly be mixed with other drugs or alcohol.

GHB is another central nervous system depressant with euphoric effects that may also be used in bodybuilding. GHB is usually found in liquid form, hence the street name liquid ecstasy. It may also be regularly mixed with other drugs or alcohol when used as a club drug.

California Club Drug Abuse and Addiction Services

Substance abuse services in the state of California are provided by fee-for-service, or private providers, or publicly funded programs that are run through county agencies and usually free or low-cost for California residents in need. To find a public provider, residents should contact the local county substance abuse services division of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).[15] All treatment providers that offer nonmedical residential care, detox services, counseling, group or individual therapy sessions, and treatment and/or recovery planning are required to be licensed through DHCS. A list of California-licensed providers can be found here listed by county, location, and type of services provided.[16]^{, [17]}

Public providers typically ask that individuals go through their primary care doctor for a referral first and will accept clients regardless of their ability to pay for services. Recipients of California’s Medi-Cal, or Medicaid program, may get more information on covered services through the Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Program.[18]

Club drug abuse is treated in three main stages: prevention, treatment, and recovery. Both private and public treatment programs are likely to provide the following types of services:

Club drugs are not generally considered to be addictive on their own; however, patterns of abuse may create social, economic, personal, legal, physical, and emotional issues. Abuse of substances at a young age may lead to addiction to such substances later on. Preventative, therapeutic, and recovery services are important parts of the California substance abuse treatment sector and help to foster long-term health for individuals, families, and communities.