Designer Drugs

Designer drugs (sometimes also referred to as 'club drugs') are a particular class of synthetic drugs most often associated with 'underground' youth dance parties called 'Raves', wherein participants listen to 'techno' music and experiment with psychoactive substances. These drugs have been created by changing the molecular structure of other existing drugs, to create something new with similar pharmacological effects -- hence, the name 'designer drug.' They are plentiful, cheap -- and dangerous. For example, the pharmaceutical drug fentanyl (which was originally created as an anesthetic) has been modified to be 80 to 1,000 times more potent than heroin. 

These drugs are usually prepared by underground, amateur chemists known as "cookers," designer drugs can be injected, smoked, snorted or ingested. 

Different types of designer drugs

• GHB, Super-G, Liquid-G, Liquid Ecstasy—Gama Hydroxi-Butyric Acid was originally thought to be a human growth hormone and was abuse by body builders until banned in 1991 by the FDA.  It is a clear odorless liquid with a slight salty taste which produces a alcohol-like drunken condition. Taken alone or especially when mixed with alcoholic liquor GHB produces a stupor, vomiting and comma.  It is frequently abused at clubs, parties and alcohol-free teen dance clubs and has been used as a date-rape drug. Federal law now makes it a crime for possession of GHB due to its use as a sexual assault facilitator and the many overdose deaths attributed to its use.  
• GBL, - gamma-butyrolactone, and 1,4 BD and other similar GHB relatives are being sold over the internet to avoid the growing number of laws against GHB. The human body quickly converts these chemical kissing cousins into GHB producing the same intoxicating effects but avoiding prosecution, one of the key factors driving designer drugs.
• Rohypnol—produced overseas by Hoffman-LaRoche company it is a designer analog of valium but ten times more powerful.  When mixed with alcohol it is frequently used as a "date rape" or sexual predator drug. The US Drug Enforcement Administration calls "Rophies" the "Quaalude of the '90's."  Very popular with young people in the south along with it's chemical kissing cousins Soma and Klonopin.
• Ecstasy—or MDMA a designer analog of the old 1970's drug, MDA. Ecstasy has a chemical structure that resembles meth-amphetamine, but unlike meth, can also produce mild hallucinations and a pronounced feeling of emotional closeness to other people.  Abused at Rave dance parties, long term use leads to brain damage as the cells that produce seratonin begin to die after as few of ten uses.  The most popular Designer Drug.
• Nexus or 2C-B is a phenylethylamine analog of the powerful hallucinatory drug "DOB."  It has much stronger Ecstasy-like feelings of closeness and is highly sought after for it's strong sexual enhancement properties however it produces much less powerful hallucinations then DOB.  Most pills sold as Nexus do not contain any 2C-B but rather the cheaper DXM.  True 2C-B is much more rare than MDMA at this time
• Fants-i - or 2C-i is one of the newest designer drugs responsible for several overdoses in the Chicago metropolitan area.  Sold over the internet as a research chemical, 2C-i is related to Nexus.  Fants-i is used in liquid form, has no taste or color when diluted in water, and is very dose sensitive.  Overdose produces muscle pain, nausea, intense hallucinations and panic attacks.
• EVE - or MDEA, is a closely related analog of MDMA - Ecstasy, but it is not as popular a Club Drug because it does NOT produce the feeling of emotional closeness of Ecstasy.  The EVE experience is one of being "drugged-out" or "stoned" making it a poor choice for Raves.  Police labs report 20% of Ecstasy are really knock-off drugs like EVE, PMA, or DXM.
• Double Stack - or PMA Paramethoxyamphetamine is a designer analog of meth-amphetamine first used illicitly in Australia in 1994. It is often sold as “Ecstasy” but is much more dangerous because it doesn't produce the pleasurable MDMA effects and users take more of the drug seeking the high they crave. Over dose causes a dramatic rise in body temperature in excess of 109 degrees and death occurs from hyper-thermia. Pills can be any color and often have the same head stamp as Ecstasy. Recently seen in Chicago in pill form with three diamond design, but also found widely all over the US as evidenced by news accounts in Boston and Florida.
• DXM - Dextromethorphan is very often passed off as Ecstasy at clubs and Raves, it can also be found in many over the counter cold remedies such as Robitussin DM cough syrup.  DXM produces hallucinations and a heavy "stoned" feeling in users but none of the desirable Ecstasy effects.  DXM pills are wide-spread over the United States how ever it is usually misidentified as MDMA by users and police alike.
• Special K - Ketamine is a designer analog of PCP, (Angle Dust), and is used as a powerful veterinary tranquilizer which causes hallucinations and stupor.  It is abused at Rave parties and dance clubs and has often been used as a date rape drug. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, and mixed with other drugs such as heroin. It is not active taken orally unless in very high doses.  This drug is highly addictive even though the hallucinatory effect lasts only one hour.
• Cat - Methcathanone is a designer analog of meth-amphetamine which has been brought into the country from Russia. Easy to make without the tell-tail fumes of meth-amphetamine production, cat produces a cocaine like high with hallucinations similar to mescaline.  This drug seems to be limited to the Mid-west at this time.
• Ice  - A smokable form of recrystallized meth-amphetamine with a similar effect of crack cocaine. However, unlike the crack high, which lasts only 10-15 minutes, the ice high lasts 10 hours.
• YABA - imported from southeast Asia, YABA is an ultra pure form of meth-amphetamine often combined with caffeine, and pressed into tiny pills.  The pills, small enough to fit in the end of a soda straw, can be coated, flavored, and produce a 10 hour stimulating high.
• China White - street name for Beta Hydroxide Methal Fentanyl, it is 6,000 times the potency of pure natural heroin.  There are many designer analogs of the basic narcotic fentanyl and because of their potency they have been responsible for over 2,000 narcotic overdose deaths.

EFFECTS OF USE OF DESIGNER DUGS

In general, the physical symptoms that are common among users of designer drugs include:

* Hypertension
* Increased heart rate
* Clenched teeth
* Blurred vision
* Uncontrolled tremors
* Drooling
* Anorexia
* Nausea and vomiting
* Impaired speech
* Total paralysis
* Chills and sweating
* Dehydration and heat exhaustion
* Respiratory depression
* Seizures
* Permanent brain damage
* Death

Some common psychological side effects include:

* Confusion
* Irritability
* Severe anxiety
* Extreme emotional sensitivity
* Irrational thinking
* Depression
* Amnesia
* Violent behavior
* Insomnia
* Hallucinations