The Future of Recreational Drugs in America Part II

Through my previous examination of developing drug culture in the United States, I explored the future of a few choice drugs in America, such as Psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. I also mentioned the War on Drugs and a proposed California bill aimed at combating the harmful effects brought on by the decade-spanning conflict between the government and scheduled drugs.

CA SB-519 aims to allow for the possession, usage, cultivation, and sharing of substances (such as Psilocybin, LSD, Mescaline, and Ibogaine) as well as officially recognizing the potential medical benefits of certain substances based on research and anecdotal evidence. However, the bill also includes two other psychedelic substances: MDMA and Ketamine. These two substances are referenced far less than the aforementioned psychedelics, likely because these drugs can easily be abused to the point of overdose. While these fears are completely warranted, they again stem from misinformation and miseducation surrounding the topic of drugs and substance abuse.

MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, is a Schedule I, semi-hallucinogenic, psychoactive substance used commonly for parties and concerts. Testimonials of the drug are all highly positive as well, making it a highly desired substance among many impressionable people. It is considered by many to be the quintessential “party drug” and, as such, has contributed to an immense number of drug-related deaths.

When ingested, MDMA sends signals to your brain, telling it to release all of your stored dopamine at once. This creates intense feelings of euphoria, making users happier, more compassionate, and energetic. Unfortunately, this means the substance has an incredibly low threshold for abuse, as it can seemingly generate happiness for the user at no effort.

The primary issue with MDMA stems from a failure to educate people about the substance. There are crucial details that many need to understand before ingesting any substance, but this is especially true when there is a risk of harm.

MDMA is a substance that cannot be mixed with alcohol, yet it is most commonly circulated at bars, clubs, and concerts, all of which serve alcohol. Not only can mixing the two inhibit motor skills, but it can cause users to lose consciousness, making for a dangerous and potentially deadly turn of events. Combining the two can also lead to a bout of harmful effects, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, and seizures, as well as increasing the risk of overdose.

MDMA also poses a high risk for users to become severely dehydrated. Taking the substance in a small club with little airflow, while you’re dancing next to dozens of other people can cause you to overheat and dehydrate quickly. However, users won’t know or understand this until it’s too late. Regular hydration is a necessity when one takes MDMA, yet many first-time users do not know this because of the taboo associated with sharing knowledge regarding drug usage.

A final, incredibly crucial, point of knowledge that must be considered with MDMA is that it must be tested by users before every usage. This is because the substance is unregulated, which allows for dealers to substitute chemicals and other drugs, increasing the dangers of the substance, as it might be toxic or laced with a much more dangerous substances like Fentanyl. Testing kits are easily acquired online, and testing these substances takes very little time. However, since this information is not common knowledge, it leaves many first-time users at the risk of harm.

While MDMA may seem more dangerous than Psilocybin, or less useful in a medical setting than Ibogaine, it actually upholds a crucial and respectable role in modern medicine. MDMA is primarily being used to help those with severe PTSD overcome their traumas, as well as for treating anxiety in terminally ill patients and helping with social anxiety for autistic adults. This work is incredibly promising, as studies have found that after a year without MDMA treatments, nearly 70% of those treated for PTSD no longer met clinical criteria that would lead to a diagnosis of PTSD. Understanding the medical potential for MDMA would likely pave the way for more mainstream education surrounding the substance, effectively lowering the risk of overdoses.

Ketamine, commonly referred to as Special K or simply K, is another psychedelic substance that can cause hallucinations and induce euphoria in its users. Ketamine, unlike the other substances included in CA SB-519, is a Schedule III substance, as it is commonly used as an anesthetic in hospitals around the globe. Ketamine is often used recreationally as well, allowing users to relax, relieve pain, and dissociate while keeping them in a sedentary state at higher doses. First-hand testimonials offer high praise, with many citing the substance as an experience unlike those that they have experienced on other psychedelic substances. This, paired with the higher price and scarcity of the drug, make it a highly sought-after substance. However, it is rarely referenced in the mainstream, and information surrounding the recreational use of the substance is scarcer than MDMA.

Ketamine is particularly dangerous for uneducated recreational users because many don’t understand how to properly dose themselves at all. Ketamine can come as a liquid or as a powder and can be taken in a number of different ways, some of which are more dangerous than others. Particularly risky is self-injections of liquid Ketamine or insufflation of powdered Ketamine. The risks here equate to self-harm via injection and accidental overdose. Finding any information on properly dosing Ketamine in recreational environments can be incredibly difficult, and can sometimes be incorrect, leading to a high risk for users.

Another important point regarding Ketamine is its danger when mixed with alcohol. Much like MDMA, Ketamine and Alcohol don’t mix well. The concoction can lead to an increased potential for overdose, as it greatly inhibits perception and cognitive functions, leading many to overindulge in either alcohol or Ketamine. The two substances combined offer synergistic effects, which often mislead users and cause them to harm themselves.

Ketamine, with its potential dangers, actually offers a bounty of potential medical benefits. As briefly mentioned before, Ketamine is used as an anesthetic in hospitals and ambulances, helping subdue those in serious accidents quickly and pleasantly so that doctors may effectively work to save them. Ketamine also shows immense promise in the world of therapy. Ketamine, like MDMA, is being used to help treat people suffering from PTSD, but unlike MDMA is being used to treat people suffering from debilitating depression. So far, studies have found that about 85% of participants were successfully treated. As research continues and information surrounding the substance grows, the potential benefits will continue to become clearer, again paving the way for education about the substance.

While these two substances are riskier than the other psychedelics listed in CA SB-519, they are incredibly important and warrant inclusion in the bill. All of the drugs listed are all in high circulation for recreational use, and it’s more than likely that you’ve met someone that has taken at least one of these substances. Decriminalizing the substances and rescheduling them based on their medical use would not contribute to an influx of crime, but would lead to the opposite. Situations involving police officers and people in possession of these substances would not escalate as they often do in recent decades. Drug dealers would have less incentive to risk selling, and street crime related to dealing those drugs would decrease greatly. These instances have been observed in the state of Oregon and cities Denver, Oakland, and Santa Cruz, time and time again, proving the untapped potential of exploring these drugs for medicinal and recreational use. With all this information, it is also crucial to note that at the end of the day, these are still illegal drugs, all of which pose risks. I do not recommend or condone the usage of these substances, but it is crucial to always remember that the most important part of understanding drug culture is researching and educating yourself on the potential risks and benefits that come with substance usage.