Ecstasy is often consumed at parties or raves and has stimulant properties like amphetamine and can also cause hallucinations. People who use this drug often believe that ecstasy is a safe drug, but it can have short and longer term effects. 

Ecstasy is most often swallowed in tablets or capsules. Many pills do not have any ecstasy in them at all, and makers often use cheaper ingredients such as cornstarch, soaps or detergents as filler.  Common substitutions for active ingredients include LSD, ketamine, cocaine or methamphetamines. 

Ecstasy’s effects are not immediate; it takes about an hour to reach the brain and effects may last from 3 – 6 hours, although some effects may last up to 1 week or longer after the drug is taken.  However, physical dependence is rare. 

Short term effects of ecstasy include:
- Euphoria, empathy and energy
- Decreased appetite
- Panic attacks, paranoia or hallucinations
- Potential for serious dehydration, and raised temperature

Longer term use can cause:
- Mental confusion and sleeplessness
- Memory problems
- Chronic exhaustion

Ecstasy can be addictive and people can become tolerant, and experience withdrawal symptoms.

Methamphetamine is a powerful man-made stimulant that is only produced illegally. It is often sold as a white powder that people sniff up their nose, although it can also be mixed with water and injected, swallowed as tablets or smoked as crystals. 

Short term effects (generally last 6 – 8 hours) include:
- Higher energy and less fatigue
- Rapid flow of ideas and speech
- Sense of great confidence
- Twitching muscles

Longer term effects:
Can affect all body systems, including brain damage
- Anxiety and depression when drug wears off
- Potential for psychosis, paranoia and violence
- Severely damaged skin and poor nutrition
- Intense withdrawal symptoms

The stage of methamphetamine use when a person 'comes down' from a drug-induced state is commonly known as “tweaking”.  As the effects wear off the person feels a powerful combination of:  drug craving, anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability aggression and possible paranoia.

They can be very dangerous to themselves and for those around them, as cravings can be extremely intense.  

Ketamine is a dissociative drug, meaning it creates a sense of detachment of the mind from the body. It also alters how sight and sound are experienced. 

GHB has similar effects and is also known as liquid ecstasy, G, grievous bodily harm, scoop and easy lay

Ketamine and GHB are odourless and colourless and their effects can make it hard for a person to resist sexual assault, so they are often considered a 'date rape' drug.

They can be used for medical purposes, in a liquid that is injected, and when sold illegally, are often in powder form that can be snorted, smoked, dissolved in liquid and injected or mixed with a drink and drunk.

Short term effects include: 
- Vivid dreams or hallucinations
- Inability to move or speak
- Confusion and loss of coordination
- Overdose is also a risk in large quantities

Long term effects for regular users may include urinary and bladder problems.

It is unclear whether ketamine or GHB is addictive; however, abruptly stopping use can lead to withdrawal symptoms.