Chanel, Dior, Versace, Gucci, Givenchy. These names evoke prestige and haute couture. After all, these are designer brands that depict high-end fashion.
However, the same can’t be said when we talk about designer drugs. In fact, there’s nothing glamorous about it, despite what the media often portrays.
So what are designer drugs, really? Does it take a creative genius to come up with concoctions that get people high, addicted, or even dead?
What are Designer Drugs?
Designer drugs first came about in the 1980s to refer to drugs incidentally created by pharmaceutical companies. Methamphetamine and LSD are one of the first designer drugs originally designed for medication.
Today, the term designer drugs refer to synthetic alternatives to existing narcotics. They are “designed” usually in secret and illegal laboratories, to increase the potency of a drug or to create a new marketable narcotic.
Some of the most common designer drugs are:
- K2, a synthetic marijuana
- bath salts
- spice
- LSD
- ecstasy
The Dangers of Designer Drugs
Since designer drugs are often concocted in clandestine and illegal laboratories, even in makeshift labs in some homes, users will have no way of knowing for sure the kinds of substances that are in these drugs. This said, the effects may not be as intended. And, with makers wanting to make the most money out of their operations, they would often cut the substances with household chemicals. In the end, there is no guarantee as to what the effects are once users try them.
For instance, K2 has caused people to act like zombies, as they are induced to a catatonic state. There are other instances that people who took K2 have bled out because it contained chemicals that are also found in rat poison.
Therefore, even if users may have achieved their desired effect, or high, the first few times they used it, there’s no guarantee that the effects would still be the same. Furthermore, they have no idea what the long-term effects are, on top of the side effects and counter-indications of long-term and frequent use.
Seeking Help for Designer Drug Use
Perhaps there are many of you who have tried out or are considering trying designer drugs out of curiosity or a desire to try something new. There are many young people who are into these kinds of designer drugs as a way to experiment with substances. What many of these people don’t realize, however, is that there are many, even fatal, dangers that come with these kinds of drugs–as with any other illegal drug.
It’s easy to say that these drugs are hip, trendy, or are even worth trying out. However, the effect on one person may be different on another. After all, these are illegal and unregulated drugs.
If you or someone you know is abusing these designer drugs, seek help today!
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