Addiction Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Club drugs are popular psychoactive drugs (“party drugs”) that are frequently used at bars, nightclubs, raves, and dance clubs. They act on the central nervous system and are capable of producing euphoria, heightened sensory stimulation, more energy, or dissociative effects.[1] Most young adults do not realize that there is a high risk for addiction, physical and/or mental health problems, and a risk of possibly having a life-threatening overdose associated with these drugs.

Examples of common club drugs are:

• MDMA: This is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen that produces euphoria and increased energy. Along with these feelings, MDMA will raise an individual’s body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. In addition, MDMA will create a risk of hyperthermia (high body temperature).
• Ketamine: Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that produces an out-of-body experience. In larger amounts, ketamine causes an individual to experience a K-hole, which is a form of disassociation from reality and a loss of muscular control.
• GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid): GHB is a CNS depressant causing a sense of euphoria in low doses. However, at higher doses, it will cause someone to become drowsy, unconscious, or stop breathing.
• Rohypnol: Rohypnol is a potent benzodiazepine with properties similar to Valium (sedation, muscle relaxation, and amnesia). It is often used as a date-rape drug.
• LSD: LSD produces vivid visual hallucinations and has the potential to induce an episode of psychosis.
• PCP (Phencyclidine): PCP is a dissociative anesthetic that has the potential to cause hallucinations, agitation, violent behavior, or episodes of psychotic behavior.

According to both the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, many club drugs are predominantly used by young adults aged 18 – 25.[2]

Agape Treatment Center provides comprehensive treatment for club drug addiction with multiple options of care to assist you in your recovery. The treatment we provide is evidence-based and includes various modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. 

Many who experience club drug addiction will also experience co-occurring mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, or PTSD.[7] We utilize a dual-diagnosis integrated approach that allows us to treat substance addiction and the co-occurring disorder simultaneously.

We help you understand the underlying reasons for your substance use, develop healthy coping strategies for stress and social situations, rebuild relationships damaged by addiction, and create a fulfilling life without relying on party drugs. Recovery doesn’t end when treatment does—we provide aftercare planning with connections to support groups, ongoing therapy options, and relapse prevention strategies for lasting recovery.

Club drug addiction is a serious problem, and these addictions usually need professional help to correct them. Often, people who use recreational drugs don’t acknowledge the extent of their risk, but recreational drugs can have lifelong consequences. Along with the risk of overdosing or being sexually assaulted, chronic club drug use also threatens your education, career, relationships, and mental health.

If you or someone close to you is dependent on club drugs, you should not hesitate to get help for them. The substances associated with entertainment and recreation are often unpredictable and dangerous, so the earlier you intervene, the better the chance for complete recovery.