Rave drugs: pharmacological considerations

AANA J. 2004 Feb;72(1):61-7.

Abstract

An increasingly prevalent component of today's adolescent and young adult culture are the rave or club drugs, such as Ecstasy, Rohypnol, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, ketamine, Fry, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and methamphetamine. Considering the incidence of accidental injury in this age group, young patients admitted to the operating room in emergency situations may be under the influence of one of these drugs. Each of these illicit drugs has distinct adverse physiological effects that may be compounded by the administration of anesthetic agents. Thus, it is important for the anesthetist to be cognizant of these drugs, their effects, and the potential risk factors they pose.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anesthesia / methods
  • Dancing*
  • Designer Drugs / chemistry
  • Designer Drugs / poisoning*
  • Emergency Treatment / methods
  • Flunitrazepam / poisoning
  • Hallucinogens / poisoning
  • Humans
  • Hydroxybutyrates / poisoning
  • Illicit Drugs / chemistry
  • Illicit Drugs / poisoning*
  • Ketamine / poisoning
  • Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / poisoning
  • Methamphetamine / poisoning
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / poisoning
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / etiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control

Substances

  • Designer Drugs
  • Hallucinogens
  • Hydroxybutyrates
  • Illicit Drugs
  • 4-hydroxybutyric acid
  • Methamphetamine
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Ketamine
  • Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine