LGBT Club Drug Addiction

Club drugs, also known as “designer drugs,” have risen to popularity in the last two decades – causing the lesbian and gay community to feel the fallout of this epidemic. From trip-based drugs such as ecstasy to stimulants like methamphetamines, club drugs tend to be used to facilitate social and sexual interactions at dance clubs or underground parties known as “raves.” While many lesbian and gay social settings exist in drug-free atmospheres, some dance settings exist where drug use is rampant, largely to engender relaxation and ongoing alertness in a party environment.

Club Drug Addiction Among LGBT Circles

Many club drugs can quickly lead to addiction, even when single-occasion use is intended. Consequences of club drug addiction can include compromised judgment and the lowering of social inhibitions, in the worst cases leading gay and lesbian individuals to fall victim to drug overdose, unsafe or anonymous sexual practices and even become victims of sexual assaults and verbal and physical violence while inebriated. When LGBT club drug addiction has taken hold, compassionate and tolerant treatment at residential drug rehabilitation centers may be necessary in order to break the physical – and psychological – addiction to designer drugs.

Popular Club Drugs in the Gay and Lesbian Communities

Specific drugs have experienced widespread distribution at dance clubs and raves, among gay and straight individuals alike. However, many drug dealers take aim at the late-night, energetic atmosphere present at many gay and lesbian clubs and the desire for acceptance and connection among club-goers. Here are a few of the most commonly used club drugs within the LGBT community:

• Ecstasy
  Ecstasy, also known known as MDMA, has been a mainstay of the club drug circuit since the early 1990s. Acting on the brain’s neurochemicals, the drug produces a high release of serotonin, causing users to feel sensory and emotional euphoria. However, in addition to implications of the drug in depression and other mental health disorders, ecstasy can lead to death by dehydration, particularly in the hot, energetic setting of dance clubs.
• Ketamine
  A strong dissociative drug, ketamine leads to perceptual changes, hallucinations and lowered reservations. Unfortunately, ketamine use can also lead to memory impairment and difficulty moving, leading to its involvement in sexual assault cases.
• Methamphetamines
  A stimulant that lowers inhibitions, methamphetamines use has become popular in the gay community. As such, meth use has been associated with risk-taking behaviors such as unsafe sexual practices and intravenous drug use, with one in five meth users in the gay community testing positive for HIV infection.
• Cocaine
  Cocaine is another popular stimulant used as a club drug in the gay and lesbian community, largely because it provides both confidence and energy.
• GHB
  Known as “liquid ecstasy,” GHB creates types of intoxication similar to those that come by drinking. However, increased dosages can lead to psychotic breaks or severe memory loss, and its colorless liquid has led to its reputation as “the date rape drug,” as many unwitting victims have been dosed with the drug.