The Dangers of Designer Drugs

Add the word designer to the front of something, and it often becomes more desirable. After all, designer clothes, shoes and homes are typically upscale and appealing. Designer drugs, however, are the exact opposite. Explore the incredible risks associated with so-called designer drugs.

Defining Designer Drugs

Designer drugs is a definite misnomer. The name implies that the drugs might be high end, more potent or have more attractive side effects. This, right away, points to the danger of designer drugs. Since they can sound more appealing to consumers, they might be used more often. In truth, designer drugs are definitely not glamorous. They are simply made by design, which means that they aren't natural. Designer drugs are created in labs rather than appearing in nature fully formed. Marijuana, for example, is not a designer drug. While it can sometimes be processed or bred for specific effects, it is naturally occurring. Methamphetamine, on the other hand, is made by isolating certain chemicals in other synthetic products and then combining them with new ingredients. In short, designer drugs are science experiments. Whether the labs are large or small, they produce drugs that are unnatural and created through scientific means. However, the manufacturers are rarely scientists. They certainly don't have the health or wellbeing of consumers at heart.

Risky Ingredients in Designer Drugs

One of the greatest dangers of designer drugs is that their ingredients can be risky. After all, the FDA doesn't regulate designer drugs. There are no transparent labeling rules, and often the actual ingredients are hidden completely. The makers of designer drugs typically have two objectives: Delivering a high and making profits. Safety, health and transparency are definitely not priorities. As a result, those making these drugs often use unsavory ingredients in production. In fact, even drug users are shocked to learn what types of ingredients they might be consuming on a regular basis. Meth, for example, is made with a derivative of common cold medicines. However, the additions to that ingredient are horrendous. Things like battery acid, antifreeze and even drain cleaner are commonly used to boost the high of the user. It goes without saying that ingesting these dangerous ingredients is risky for health and can lead to severe and lasting problems.

False Advertising and Sales of Designer Drugs

Designer drugs aren't just sold on street corners and dark alleyways. In fact, designer drugs can sometimes be found for sale at gas stations and convenience stores! Some designer drugs are manufactured and packaged as if they are not for human consumption. Manufacturers avoid FDA regulations by pretending that their products are for things like cleaning or hygiene. One of the scariest examples of this is bath salts. These bath salts were sold in small foil packages and promoted as an additive to put in your bathtub as a way to relax. In reality, those in the know were consuming these bath salts as a designer drug. Bath salts are similar to amphetamines. They deliver a powerful high and act as a stimulant. Clearly, this is not a harmless substance. However, it took years for bath salts to be identified as a drug and then for sales in stores to be banned. That's just one more danger of designer drugs. They are synthetic, so they can be packaged in tricky ways. Even ecstasy has been linked to candy or toy packaging as a way to avoid detection.

Designer Drugs Associated With Higher Overdose Risks

Designer drugs come with all the same dangers as other drugs. Addiction, for example, is an ongoing concern for those who use any type of drug. The risk of overdose, however, is definitely larger for those who use designer drugs. Designer drugs have no set dosage. There is no standard for potency. Ketamine in one town could be twice as strong in the next town over. This means that users have no frame of reference for the amount to consume. Of course, consuming any amount of a designer drug is dangerous. But even careful users who want to avoid an overdose can't always be successful. With no labels and with different ingredients in every batch, it is impossible to know how a drug will impact the consumer. It might result in a strong high, or it might result in a coma and an eventual fatality.

The Most Common Designer Drugs

Drugs aren't always specified as designer. While any lab-made drug is technically a designer drug, many drug consumers aren't aware of that fact. It is impossible to list the many different designer drugs, a collection that grows rapidly. However, a few of the most common include ecstasy, bath salts, rohypnol and ketamine. Ecstasy is a stimulant. It is sometimes called Molly or MDMA. The drug is a popular party drug because it may boost energy. It also leads to severe dehydration and the risk of addiction. Bath salts, as mentioned above, are also known as cathinones. Bath salts are similar to amphetamines and are also considered to be an upper. Ketamine is a hallucinogen. Also known as PCP, it can create an out-of-body experience, but it also brings with it devastating mental and physical side effects. Rohypnol is a designer drug that depresses the system. It typically leads to memory loss as well as sleep. Sadly, this drug is used both as a personal sedative and as an aid to sexual assault.

Interactions Between Designer Drugs and Other Substances

Designer drugs are dangerous all on their own. Increasing the risk further is how designer drugs can interact with other substances. With no warning labels on designer drugs, it is impossible to know what will happen when mixing ketamine with alcohol, or methamphetamine with painkillers. Combining multiple substances is also risky, but that risk increases in a dramatic way when one or more of the substances happens to be a designer drug. Designer drugs aren't more expensive, more appealing or more safe. What they are is more dangerous. The dangers of designer drugs are plentiful, and the only way to avoid the risks is to stay away from these lab-made substances entirely.
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