The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 02, 2000, Page A9, Image 9
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.
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