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Club Drug

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Club Drug, Date Rape Drug, Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

  • See Also
  1. Substance Abuse
  2. Sexual Assault
  • Epidemiology
  1. Very high Incidence of use at clubs and rave parties
    1. Fendrich (2003) Addiction 98:1693-703 [PubMed]
  • History
  • Illicit Uses
  1. Date Rape (intoxicates unaware victim)
  2. Used at parties to "intensify social experiences"
  • Symptoms
  1. One minute without symptoms
  2. Next minute "drunk" with severe Intoxication
    1. Drowsiness
    2. Fatigue
    3. Impaired motor skills
    4. Severe Nausea and Vomiting
    5. Dizziness
  3. Later
    1. Amnesia of events
  • Preparations
  • Commonly used substances
  1. Alcohol
    1. Most common substance associated with Sexual Assault
  2. Stimulants (Used as Club Drugs)
    1. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy)
    2. Methamphetamine and other Amphetamines
  3. Hallucinogens (e.g. LSD)
  4. Depressants (Used as Date Rape Drug)
    1. Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
    2. Burundanga
    3. Ketamine
    4. Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
      1. Benzodiazepine sold legally in Europe and Latin America
      2. Accounts for 5% of U.S. Date Rape Drugs
  • Labs
  1. Urine Drug Screen (within 72 hours of assault)
    1. Chloral Hydrate
    2. Gamma Hydroxybutyrate
    3. Ketamine (Ketalar)
    4. Benzodiazepines
  1. See Unknown Ingestion
  2. Stimulant intake suspected
    1. See Sympathomimetic Toxicity
  • Prevention
  • Reduce risk of Date Rape Drug exposure
  1. Do not leave beverages unattended
  2. At a bar, accept drink only from bartender or waiter
  3. At parties, do not accept open drinks from anyone
  4. Be alert to behavior of friends
    1. Disproportionately inebriated to level Alcohol intake
    2. Pursue emergency care for suspected drug intake
  • Resources
  1. ClubDrugs.Org
    1. http://www.clubdrugs.org
  2. NIDA Club Drugs Information
    1. http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/clubdrugs.html
  3. StreetDrug.Org
    1. http://www.streetdrugs.org
  • References
  1. Gahlinger (2004) Am Fam Physician 69:2619-27 [PubMed]