What a Great Seizure, Man

The Washington Times reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration is cracking down (again) on "club drugs," a motley collection of substances united only by the fear they arouse among people who need to be told that raves are "all-night dance parties." Parroting the DEA, the Times describes the effects of "club drugs" in entirely negative terms, giving no hint of why people like them, how often bad side effects occur, or whether they can be avoided by prudent users. Thus, MDMA (Ecstasy) "suppresses the desire to eat, drink or sleep and can cause unconsciousness, seizures from heatstroke, heart failure, brain damage and death." Ketamine, it reports, "can cause delirium, amnesia, depression and long-term memory and cognitive difficulties." As for GHB, "In lower doses [it] causes drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and visual disturbances. At higher dosages, unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression and coma can occur."

No wonder these drugs are so popular with kids these days.