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The term “designer drugs” refers to drugs that are created in a laboratory (typically, an “underground,” or secret, illegal lab).  A designer drug is created by changing the properties of a drug that comes from a plant—such as cocaine, morphine, or marijuana—using the tools of chemistry.  The resulting “designer” drugs typically have a new, different effect on the brain or behavior.

Examples of Designer Drugs include

• MDMA (Ecstasy)
• ketamine
• GHB, Rohypnol
• LSD (acid)
• methamphetamine

Since many designer drugs are created in illegal labs, their ingredients and potency (how strong they are) vary a lot, making it nearly impossible to know what is actually in them or what they can do to you.  For example, Ecstasy tablets are often contaminated with other things, like ephedrine (used to treat allergies and asthma), ketamine (an injected anesthetic given for minor surgeries), and methamphetamine (another illicit drug).

It is not surprising that these unknown mixtures can cause dangerous side effects, such as seizures, memory loss, coma and even death.

Designer drugs can damage your health and can cause numerous unwanted effects. Many designer drugs sold on the street contain harmful chemicals, but it is hard to known the chemical composition of each drug. This means that the potency and contents of designer drugs can vary widely, even if one drug appears to be the same as another. Avoiding use of designer drugs will help you maintain your health, well-being and stay safe.

Use, distribution, and manufacture of designer drugs, such as ecstasy, is illegal in the United States. Being caught with designer drugs, or chemicals used in their manufacture, can lead to prosecution, fines and a lengthy jail sentence. The severity of the penalties levied is dependent on the quantity of the designer drug confiscated by law enforcement at the time of arrest.

Designer drugs are known to cause changes to the brain and the way it functions. Many designer drugs cause a distortion of reality called hallucination. The user of a designer drug containing a hallucinogen may see and hear things that are not real while under the influence of the drug. Users can also experience delirium, development of psychosis and in some cases brain damage from use of designer drugs.

Nausea is a common side effect of using designer drugs. Designer drugs often make a user feel sick after they take the drug, especially if it is taken with other drugs or alcohol. Because the content of a designer drug on the street varies, the length of time it takes the body to become tolerant of the drug also varies. Feelings of nausea will generally dissipate after the drug has been completely excreted from the body of the user.

The majority of designer drugs contain stimulants, often in the form of amphetamine or methamphetamine. The presence of either of these two stimulants will cause the user of the drug to notice a substantial increase in heart rate. An increase in blood pressure will also occur, due to the stress being placed on the circulatory system by the stimulants. Continued use of any designer drug containing a stimulant can cause damage to the heart and arteries