'Date Rape' Drug GHB Making Inroads in Nation's Club Scene by Donna Leinwand
GHB, a highly addictive ''date rape'' drug outlawed by Congress, is becoming increasingly popular on college campuses and at raves even though it can trigger potentially fatal comas. Emergency room admissions involving GHB nearly quadrupled nationwide from 1998 through 2000, when 4,969 cases were reported, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says. U.S. officials do not keep statistics on how many people use particular drugs, but they say survey data and anecdotal evidence-such as drug seizures and activity by drug traffickers-indicate that Ecstasy easily remains the most popular club drug. And yet, more people are overdosing on GHB than Ecstasy.
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020128/3806981s.htm

Death of the Party by Tamar Nordenberg
By powerfully and rapidly depressing a central nervous system, GHB can produce an intoxicated feeling that has earned it a reputation as a pleasure enhancer for thrill-seeking youngsters. But its side effects can range from nausea and vomiting to delusions, depression, vertigo, hallucinations, seizures, difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, amnesia, and coma. Caleb Shortridge was familiar with the drug and was even the person friends would go to for advice like "Which drugs can I take safely?" and "Which shouldn't I mix together?" Tragically, at age 27 Caleb was dead from a GHB overdose.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/200_ghb.html

California Man Imprisoned After fX Drinks Injure Partygoers by Tamar Nordenberg
Police and firefighters were called to the party when revelers began complaining of symptoms ranging from dizziness and nausea to difficulty breathing. The officials dispersed the crowd, estimated to exceed 10,000 people, and seized about 10,000 vials of the brew that had been distributed free at the party to promote the product. Daniel Bricker had substituted an industrial chemical for an ingredient from the kava-kava plant that he planned to use because he couldn't get the plant substance in time for the party.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/departs/1998/498_irs.html

Gym Owner Jailed for GHB Sales by John Henkel
Speer, a medical doctor whose physician's license was revoked in 1990 by the state of Alabama, manufactured GHB at his home and sold it at Doc's Gym, a health club he owned in Hartselle, Ala. FDA investigators posing as customers bought GHB from Speer and eventually charged him with: selling GHB without adequate directions or warnings and with intent to defraud and mislead buyers of the drug; one count of manufacturing a drug in an unlicensed facility; and one count of misrepresenting information on a Drug Enforcement Agency application for prescribing controlled substances. He claimed he was a licensed physician, when, in fact, his license had been revoked.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/departs/1997/Gym

In the Grip of GHB by Linda Marsa
The illegal supplement is popular with fitness buffs, insomniacs, and partyers- and is highly addictive. Many doctors are grappling with how to treat people who are hooked. Addiction experts say that withdrawal from GHB is worse than kicking cocaine. Compounding the problem is that most doctors don't know how to treat GHB addiction-or even recognize that GHB is the problem when addicts are undergoing withdrawal symptoms.
The following document is in pdf format.
http://www.nascsa.org/PDF/LATimGhb.pdf

Club Drug's Dangers Explained by Jodi S. Cohen
Some GHB advocates have contended the drug is only dangerous when combined with other substances; however, according to Dr. Steven Smith, these GHB-related substances are lethal without taking any other drugs. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that long-term use can lead to addiction and potentially severe withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, tremors, insomnia and hallucinations. The big message to doctors is to be aware of the potential fatality of the compounds and the whole addiction and withdrawal issue.
http://detnews.com/2001/health/0101/11/b01-174233.htm

GHB: A Killer Drug by the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training
This presentation informs the reader about the central nervous system depressant GHB. Find out what it is, how it is used, the dangers associated with it, and available references.
The following document is in pdf format.
http://www.health.org/multimedia/webcasts/02/ghbhandouts.pdf

Grieving Mom of GHB Victim Warns Others of Drug Dangers by Lucie Walters
Tim was a healthy, happy, smart 21-year-old who had everything to live for. On Friday, April 21, 2000, he died in his bed from respiratory failure caused by GHB. If Tim had known how dangerous this drug is, he would never have taken it. He wasn't ready to die at the age of 21. He was just having fun with his friends, but it cost him his life.
http://www.theadvocate.com/stories/042102/tee_adolessons001.shtml

GHB: Grievous Bodily Harm by John S. Asante
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has become a highly dangerous, popular drug that has led to numerous deaths and violent assaults. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate will continue to present a serious challenge to law enforcement as its popularity grows. Its relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, and difficulty in detection continue to fuel its abuse.
The following document is in pdf format. Source: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/1999/apr99leb.pdf


GBL

The Dangers of GBL (Gamma Butyrolactone) by Chris Woolston
Unlike some supplements, GBL actually does something once it reaches the body: It changes to GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), a potent depressant of the central nervous system. The FDA has received reports of serious problems involving the compound; these include comas and one death. Other reported side effects include vomiting, dangerously slow breathing and slow heart rates, unconsciousness, and seizures.
http://www2.vhihealthe.com/topic/gbl

California Cracks Down on "Blue Nitro" Supplement by Rusty Dornin
Blue Nitro, advertised as a body builder supplement, is made from gamma butyrolactone, a solvent added to paint thinners, plus potassium, riboflavin and wintergreen oil. There are no illegal ingredients in the aqua-colored liquid, but once consumed, it metabolizes in the body to create gamma hydroxybutyric acid or GHB. GHB, promoted as an alternative to steroids, acts as a narcotic acid and is illegal to produce or sell. GHB can be especially dangerous if taken with alcohol or drugs.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9901/14/blue.nitro/

Adverse Events Associated with Ingestion of Gamma-Butyrolactone Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas, 1998-1999
Consumers should be alert to the potential dangers of dietary supplements and understand that terms such as "natural" do not necessarily imply safety. Products containing gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) are marketed for many claimed purposes, however, GBL is converted by the body into gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a drug banned outside of clinical trials approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This article reviews the symptoms of various patients brought to emergency rooms after taking products such as Revivarant.
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056563.htm


Web Resources

Project GHB
This site is designed to create public awareness about the dangers of GHB and its analogs. It includes addiction help, studies, articles on tragedies resulting from GHB use, a death list, rape, viewer comments, and a newsletter.
www.projectghb.org


GHB Kills
This site is dedicated in loving memory of 15-year-old Samantha Reid who died after having GHB slipped in her drink at a party one night. This site provides vital information on the dangers of GHB.
http://www.ghbkills.com/