Recreational drugs: an alluring threat to your body chemistry.

Costumes are not the only things being designed these days. Designer drug continue to make the scene, despite repeated warnings about the risk of using any drug. And a whole new group of upper-and middle-class Americans are now developing a taste for something that used to be taboo - heroin. Catchy names, such as "Sweet Dreams" or "Ecstacy," may make recreational drugs sound benign. Yet the outcome of experimenting with such substance can be deadly. Dancers should know the facts. There is more to resisting the temptations of alcohol and drugs than just saying no.

Drugs and Culture

Today's drug culture is different from that of the sixties, when experimenting with acid or pot was part of a social movement. For that matter, the current drug user is not necessarily part of a counterculture. Some people may still use drugs to rebel against social constraints, but the majority of users see them simply as entertainment. Heroin today has an added appeal. Because its average purity has risen from.4 percent to a solid 60 percent, it need not be injected but can be merely inhaled; now that users know they won't risk catching AIDS from contaminated needles, heroin is becoming the drug of choice.

Alcohol and marijuana, meanwhile, remain as popular as ever, and hallucinogens appeal to a small but avid - and growing - audience. Besides the usual suspects such as LSD, hallucinogens such as Ecstasy (also known as MDMA or just "X") have long become the rage on the party scene. One soaring high of choice is katamine or "Special K," an animal anesthetic and a powerful hallucinogen which has found its way into the nostrils of New York City clubgoers. "Smart drugs," described by the sellers as nutrient-based energy boosters, have also been popular in clubs in San Francisco and elsewhere in recent years; the long-term benefits or possible dangers of these drugs have never been studied.

Why Should Dancers Care?

You should care plenty if you are concerned about mood swings, allergic reactions, or dependence - none of which will enhance your performance in class or onstage. There are excellent reasons for abstinence. No drug is totally harmless, and some form of addiction, psychological or physical - or both - is a real possibility. For this reason, using drugs is similar to playing Russian roulette. Some people can dabble with them without untoward consequences. Others get hooked. Some die.

Psychoactive drugs are alluring because they initially produce a pleasing state of euphoria, reduce telltale signs of stress, or give you an instant - and artificial - boost of energy. One of the first signs of trouble often is drug tolerance, which means that you take increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effect. As you can see in the table on the opposite page, many drugs have this potential.

With repeated use, physical dependence may also develop; if the drug is discontinued, withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, anxiety, severe stomach cramps, delirium, convulsions - sometimes death. Furthermore, all drugs can cause a psychological dependence. This happens when you feel that the positive effects produced by the drug are necessary to maintain a sense of well-being.

Another problem with commonly used drugs is the fact that many of them are illegal. This means that you cannot control the ingredients, whether these are the toxic chemicals in cocaine or the high levels of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana). You not only risk being charged with a misdemeanor for using and a felony for possessing large amounts that suggest an intent to sell, but you also risk losing your life. Today the purity of heroin can skyrocket to a staggering - and potentially fatal - 90 percent. Because of the unpredictable nature of illegal drugs, you put your health on the line every time you use them. Furthermore, taking more than one drug at a time may cause a drug interaction that could put you in the hospital - or the morgue.

Who's Vulnerable to Abuse?

Generally, people do not initially experiment with alcohol or illicit drugs after the age of twenty-nine. In fact, the highest prevalence rating for every substance occurs between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four. Young people are susceptible to abuse, and alcohol appears to be the first substance of choice among sixth, ninth, and twelfth graders, according to a study in the February issue of the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine. A 1994 study by the Department of Health and Human Resources indicates that about one-third of high school seniors have also tried marijuana.

Obviously, not all young people who experiment with drugs and alcohol become addicted. The risk increases, however, with the type of drug as well as with the underlying problem. For example, in the study of alcohol use by high school students, substance abusers reported more parental alcohol or drug problems, plus physical and sexual abuse, than did students with fewer or no substance-related consequences, such as blackouts or absenteeism. Substance abusers were also more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, emotional distress, antisocial behavior, and suicidal tendencies.

What About Dancers?

The evidence of alcohol and other drug use in the dance profession is almost entirely anecdotal. However, in one national survey of thirty-four professional ballet dancers conducted by our team at the Miller Institute for Performing Artists, half the dancers were found to have experimented with drugs; this statistic is similar to that reported in the general population.

Alcohol was also used weekly by a quarter of the group because they felt constantly under strain. Interestingly, injured dancers used both alcohol and other drugs more than dancers who did not have physical problems. In addition, drug use was more common in professional dancers considering retirement. What about healthier ways to get high?

The Pleasure Principle

Believe it or not, your body is like a chemistry lab that mixes its own special concoctions in response to such stimuli as pain, aerobics, food, and emotions. Endorphins (short for endogenous morphines) are the body's own narcotics, which attach to opiate receptors in the brain. These brain chemicals have the ability to produce a state of euphoria or well-being even if you are feeling low. They do not produce a high as much as they slow down and inhibit excessive activity in the brain.

Dancing can be a powerful mood elevator, as it combines both exercise and music - both of which stimulate the production of endorphins. Research on the effects of exercise indicates decreases in tension, depression, anger, and fatigue. There are also powerful psychological factors associated with a good workout, including a heightened sense of self-esteem and discipline. In fact, dancers appear to be most vulnerable to emotional problems when they have to stop performing because of injuries or retirement. Consequently, the ability to cope during periods of stress is important.

Dancers who can cope with tension and depression without relying on alcohol or other drugs have these traits in common: they have the support of friends, they possess problem-solving skills, they follow healthy habits, and they have leisure activities. The last achievement can be a challenge for dancers, who rarely give themselves the luxury of time away from work. Psychological services and career counseling can be beneficial when problems arise. Be aware of the presence of serious mood disorders and the adult version of hyperactivity, as these may also lead to self-medication and may require professional attention.

What to Do If Addicted

Dancers who have come to depend on alcohol and other drugs to feel better must get help. The first step is to acknowledge that you have a substance-abuse problem. Denial is a symptom that something is wrong - it is not a solution! Chronic substance abuse can cause acute emotional and medical problems. If you are physically addicted, you will need a physician to manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Twelve-step programs such as those of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can also provide support for the psychological aspects of dependence.

Conclusions

It is important to remember that experimentation with mind-altering substances can be dangerous even if it does not lead to addiction. Consequently, the best form of prevention is to avoid illegal drugs and excessive use of alcohol. You will also need to cope with problems as they arise, to seek professional support if needed. Luckily, endorphins - which your body produces - can enhance your mood naturally. So hum your favorite music, put on those slippers, and dance.

Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., a former member of New York City Ballet, is a clinical psychologist.