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ETCETERA__ Club drugs a risk to students BY WlLLIESHA C. LaKIN Staff Writer Going “clubbing” might require more aware ness than having a buddy or a designated driver for safety. With changing times come greater dangers, which got their start as early as the ‘60s and ‘70s - club drugs. USC students and faculty are concerned be cause there might be a serious problem with these drugs on and around campus. Two female sophomores, who chose not to be identified, said there are major problems with club drugs at USC and in area hangouts. One sophomore said they are “very preva lent” on campus, and she was aware there was a problem her first year at USC. Another sophomore said she was hospital ized after blacking out at a popular Five Points nightclub. She suspects someone slipped something to her. “You can find them [club drugs], no prob lem,” she said. Dr. Roger Bowersock, director and chief psychologist at the USC Counseling and Hu man Development Center, said no reports of the drugs have come up in his office, but “there is some suspicion.” Clubdrugs.org is a Web site with informa tion from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The site includes details on MDMA, also known as “Ecstasy,” GHB, ketamine, Rohypnol, Methamphetamine and LSD. NILA does not spare details about anything that can happen when someone abuses these drugs. The effects of these drugs, which are typi cally used at nightspots and parties such as “raves” or “trances,” can be as minimal as nausea or as life-threatening as a coma or stroke. NIDA has joined four oiganizations that are dedicated to educating students about drug use. The organizations are the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the Ameri can Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Join Together, and National Families in Action. They’ve collaborated with HotStamp to put out 330,000 postcards depicting what the brain looks like after using Ecstasy. These post cards, available since December, are available at Columbiana Centre. A total of 250,000 “Community Drug Alert Bulletins” were distributed to warn recipients about club drugs. The bulletin and a picture of the postcard are available on the Web site. The community organizations have specif ically targeted college students with the group International Students in Action, “a group com mitted to educating fellow students across the nation about the dangers of drug use, particu larly club drug use,” NFIA Executive Direc tor Sue Rusche said on the site. Each drug is given its own special section of the site. Any information needed about club drugs and their dangers is provided. The effects of Ecstasy can last from three hours to several weeks and can cause depres sion, sleep disorders, anxiety and paranoia. It can also cause the breakdown of dopamine neurotransmitters, which can lead to Parkin son’s disease. GHB, or “Grievous Bodily Harm” or “Liquid Ecstasy,” has been used recently as a “date rape” drug and can cause altered breath ing and heart rate and can even lead to a coma or death. Although the typical abuser might not think GHB is addictive, studies prove the drug can cause withdrawal effects, such as insomnia, anx iety or sweating. Ketamine, known as “Vitamin K,” is used legally by veterinarians, but it has been abused since the 1980s. In high doses, it can cause delir ium and attention impairment, as well as im pairment of learning ability and memory loss. Rohypnol, called “roofies” or the “foiget me pill,” is used as a date rape drug, and it falls within the same class of drugs as Valium and Xanax. It is a popular abused drug because it is taste less, odorless and dissolves easily. One milligram of Rohypnol, even without alcohol, can cause eight to 12 hours of impairment. This drug can cause amnesia and drowsiness and has also been proven to cause physical and psychologi cal dependence. Methamphetamine, better known as “speed” or “crank,” is called a “toxic” and “addictive” stimulant by the NIDA. This drug causes memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior and even extreme anorexia. This drug also increases the risk of devel oping Parkinson’s disease. The final drug in the club-drugs category is one that has been popular since most college students’ parents were young: LSD. Its street terms include “acid” and “boomers,” and it is an “unpredictable” drug. After 30 to 90 minutes, this drug causes di lated pupils, hyperthermia and nausea. Use of this hallucinogen can eVen lead to terrible fears of insanity, death and losing con trol. All of these are factors of depression and even schizophrenia. Even though these symptoms might not be seen often, Bowersock said there are other tell tale signs that these and other drugs are being abused. A drug abuser might have a very difficult time staying organized or op a schedule. Although every student might miss a class every once in a while, a “real classical sign” of a troubled student might be that he or she is missing several classes at a time. Also, they might be constantly staying up late and sleeping in. Although the initiative to get help lies with in the abuser, and a friend can only do so much to help him or her, Bowersock said there are ways a friend can encourage someone to seek help. “Approach the person themselves and suggest they get help,” Bowersock said A friend can go to a trusted resident assistant for help with drug abuse.' -He also said a friend should suggest coming to the Counseling and Human Development Center for guidance, or they can be referred to other places in the community. “We’re here to help students,” Bowersock said. 0 Lire I iMt MtMtieri MILLION DOLLAR CLUE 24 Hr office # (803)748-9171 Twenty Five Years of trusted servici to the university community. “Her name is her reputation. 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