The
party pooper
Party drugs are not as fun as you might think. Sam Koderitsch
talked to Leesha Furse about the reasons why.
 |
|
Party
drugs are dangerous because of what people do under
the influence of them, and have particularly harmful
health effects when combined with alcohol or mixed
with other drugs.
|
|
Photo
by CPL Simone Liebelt
|
KETAMINE
is an anaesthetic used in veterinary and human medicine
– and as a party drug. This is an example of party
drug users experimenting with a wider variety of drugs than
in previous years, going far beyond the standard cocaine,
ecstasy, speed and LSD.
Studies show that party drug users are also now more likely
to take more than one type of drug and combinations considerably
increase the level of risk to which they are exposed.
The
greatest risk
Sam Koderitsch, from the ADF Alcohol, Tobacco and Other
Drugs Service, says the greatest risk is not knowing what
is in a party pill – and what that will do to your
body.
“We don’t know what a lot of party pills actually
contain,” she says, “so if someone was to have
an adverse reaction and end up in hospital, the treating
medical officer would only be able to treat the patient
based on what substance was known to be in the pill or tablet
they took and according to their signs and symptoms.
You could have someone say to you, ‘This is ecstasy’,
but it might not be just ecstasy.”
Your
body
It’s hard to say for sure how the body will react to
party drugs, but common negative reactions include dehydration,
overheating and strong feelings of anxiety or fear (on “bad
trips”).
Nothing major? Not so. A few bottles of water to quench
your thirst can’t reduce the impact of party drugs.
Why? “Because people do adverse things under the influence,
the same as alcohol,” Sam Koderitsch says. For example,
a survey last year found 60 per cent of respondents had
driven a car within an hour of taking party drugs.
Put party drugs and alcohol together and you have an even
more unpredictable consequence.
“For example, ecstasy is a stimulant and therefore
speeds up (or stimulates) the central nervous system,”
Sam says. “This may include an increase in heart rate,
increased blood pressure and increased energy and alertness.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant, which slows
down the central nervous system.
“Then there is the issue that both substances cause
dehydration. The combination of the two can have harmful
effects on the body, which could lead to more serious problems
such as severe dehydration, cardiac arrhythmias or possibly
even heart failure.”
Poly-drug use (taking more than one type of drug at the
same time) is common. Almost three quarters of a 2004 national
sample reported that they typically used more than one type
of drug. Just over half nominated ecstasy as their favourite
drug. The majority of ecstasy users also reported using
other drugs while taking ecstasy, most commonly alcohol,
tobacco, cannabis, speed and crystal methamphetamine.
Your
world
Sam Koderitsch says there has been a shift from cannabis
to party drugs because many party drugs tend not to last
in your system for much more than 24 hours whereas cannabis
can last for up to four to six weeks. However party drug
use can affect not just your physical health, but your mental
health and social networks.
Over a third of respondents in the national survey of 2004
reported that their ecstasy and other drug use caused work
or study problems, financial problems and social or relationship
problems. A small number also reported legal problems.
The
consequences
Party drug use is a problem the ADF is likely to inherit.
Participants in the 2004 national sample first used ecstasy
at an average age of 19 years and had been using ecstasy
for a median of four years. Almost half of them had used
between monthly and fortnightly, nearly one-third of them
between fortnightly and weekly.
The ADF has a zero tolerance of illicit drugs and new legislation
has enhanced drug testing powers in the ADF. Under the Defence
Instruction (General) PERS 15-2, use of illicit drugs by
members of the ADF may lead to disciplinary and/or administrative
action to terminate the member’s appointment or initiate
discharge.
Where
to seek help
- In an emergency call 000.
- Contact your local ADF medical centre or psychology section.
