Designer drugs such as ecstasy and GHB are becoming the drug of choice of teen-agers, but according to a panel sponsored by the Columbia County School System's Safe and Drug Free Schools Advisory Board, most teens do not know the effects of what they're taking. They are not getting educated. Dr. Matt Shannon, interim medical director of Alachua General Hospital, said designer drugs are dangerous because of the chemicals. It is really a crapshoot because they have no idea what's in them. Members spent a majority of time talking about ecstasy or MDMA and its use at all-night dance parties, commonly called raves.
Users get a feeling of euphoria and sometimes experience hallucinations.
Ecstasy, which can last for several hours, floods the brain with Seratonin, which regulates feelings of happiness. Ecstasy usually comes in the form of a small aspirin-like tablet and can have designs imprinted in the pill. If someone takes enough of the drug, or if they mix it with something else, they could be prone to seizures, respiratory distress and increased body temperature, which can lead to dehydration or heatstroke. Taking the drug can also lead to social problems, such as poor judgment and risky behavior, Shannon said. Martinez, who owned a downtown business in Gainesville and led the fight in favor of 2 a.m. bar closing times, brought along a videotape of a club, where teens danced the night away.