title: "Addicted to Euphoria": The History, Clinical Presentation, and Management of Party Drug Misuse.
abstract: Eating, drinking, sexual activity, and parenting invoke pleasure, an emotion that promotes repetition of these behaviors, are essential for survival. Euphoria, a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness, is an amplification of pleasure, aspired to one's essential biological needs that are satisfied. People use party drugs as a shortcut to euphoria. Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), γ-hydroxybutyric acid, and ketamine fall under the umbrella of the term "party drugs," each with differing neuropharmacological and physiological actions. This chapter seeks to survey the history and epidemiology of party drug use; we will then discuss the pharmacological characteristics of each drug to provide a platform for understanding the difficulties that party drug users encounter through intoxication, harmful use, dependence, and withdrawal and how these should be clinically managed.
authors.affiliation: Addictions Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jenny.bearn@slam.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bearn
authors.affiliation: Addictions Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000266:history; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid; D007649:Ketamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: GBH; MDMA; Party drugs