What is a party drug?

You may come across people offering or using “party drugs” when you are at a party, festival or concert. They are also known as recreational drugs.

Although taking party drugs might seem fun, there are lots of risks and downsides to taking them. They are also usually illegal.

Types of party drugs

Party drugs fall into 3 categories.

Depressant drugs slow down your central nervous system. They include:

• GHB
• marijuana (cannabis)
• amyl nitrite (‘poppers’)
• nitrous oxide (laughing gas, ‘nangs’)
• heroin (‘gear’)
• benzodiazepines (sedatives or tranquillisers)

Stimulant drugs speed up your central nervous system. They include:

• cocaine (coke, charlie)
• amphetamines (speed)
• methamphetamines (ice, crystal meth)

Hallucinogen drugs affect your sense of reality. They include:

• LSD (acid)
• MDMA (ecstasy)
• ketamine
• magic mushrooms

If you are trying to decide if you should take a party drug, it is important to understand:

• what you are taking
• the risks related to that particular drug

Find out more about drug abuse and its risks here.

What are the effects of party drugs?

Party drugs are often taken to increase the enjoyment of social gatherings. Party drugs affect you differently depending on:

• the type of drug
• the purity of the drug
• the setting in which you are taking the drug
• your height, weight, and health
• your tolerance to the drug
• if you have taken other drugs around the same time

People usually take party drugs for effects such as:

• increased energy
• feeling happy or euphoric (‘high’)
• changed perception

However, when taking party drugs, there is always a risk of:

• unwanted effects
• more serious complications

What are the risks of party drugs?

Unlike prescription medicines, there is no process to check the quality for making many party drugs. This is because most of them are illegal. This means you do not know:

• how strong the drug is
• if other substances have been added to the batch

Even pills that look the same may have different ingredients and effects.

Pill testing is a strategy for finding out what is actually in a drug batch. This can prevent people from using contaminated drugs, reduce overdose and promote safer drug use. Pill testing has been tried out in Australia, but it is not currently available.

Short-term risks

Dozens of Australians become seriously ill or die each year after using party drugs.

A drug overdose can happen when a person mixes drugs or takes too much of a drug.

Overdosing on different drugs causes different symptoms. An overdose may cause you to:

• be unresponsive
• have trouble breathing
• be panicked, agitated or anxious

If you suspect you or a person you know if having a drug overdose, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

After taking a recreational drug, you might:

• experience shaking
• feel nauseous
• have headaches
• become confused, anxious, hostile or even psychotic

You can even have life-threatening side effects such as:

• heart problems
• stroke
• hyperthermia (over-heating)
• seizures (fits)
• coma

Party drug use can encourage reckless behaviour, putting you at mental and physical risk.

After taking party drugs, you might have a come-down. A come-down can make you:

• tired
• irritable
• have difficulty sleeping
• anxious

Longer-term risks

In the long term, party drugs can affect your:

• mental and physical health
• relationships
• social life
• work life

Some party drugs are highly addictive, and it can be hard to stop if you are using them regularly. People who become addicted to drugs can:

• participate in crime
• experience mental illness
• have accidental overdoses

You may think you can safely manage the effects of drugs, but it could have an unexpected effect on your life. Drug use can also make mental illness worse.

Drugs can harm your unborn baby or breastfed child. You can find information about children and alcohol and other drugs on the Kids Helpline website.

What about the law and party drugs?

If you take illegal party drugs, you could find yourself in trouble with the law. You might:

• be fined
• lose your driver’s licence
• go to prison

What can I do to reduce the risks of taking party drugs?

It is best not to use party drugs. There are some things you can do to help reduce the risks. Before you take a party drug:

• learn about the drug you are using
• avoid taking a drug if you are feeling mentally unwell
• only use an amount of drug that reflects your level of experience

It’s a good idea to take a small, test dose and wait two hours. This can help you understand the drug and how you will react to it.

When taking party drugs, remember:

• Do not mix drugs, including with alcohol and caffeine.
• Stay cool and hydrated (drink about 500mL of water every hour).
• Stay with a friend, preferably one who is not taking drugs, who can help support you and avoid risky situations.
• Don’t drive or swim.

You can also take other steps to stay safe at parties and music festivals.

Resources and support

If you have a problem with recreational drug use, you can contact:

• Lifeline (for anyone having a personal crisis) — call 13 11 14 or chat online
• Alcohol and Drug Foundation — information hotline on 1300 85 85 84
• National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline — call 1800 250 015
• Kids Helpline — call 1800 55 1800
• Drug Help — visit the website
• ReachOut — visit the website