Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a synthetic drug with a history steeped in both medical use and rampant abuse. While it has legitimate pharmaceutical applications under the trade name Xyrem®, it has become notorious for its misuse and the significant harm it causes. Known on the streets by names like Liquid Ecstasy, Scoop, and Grievous Bodily Harm, GHB poses a severe threat to public safety.
What is GHB?
GHB is a central nervous system depressant that appears in either liquid or powder form. It is often dissolved in drinks and consumed for its euphoric, calming effects. Despite its clear, odourless nature, GHB is anything but benign. It is often produced illegally in domestic or foreign clandestine laboratories, making its purity and potency unpredictable.
Alarmingly, GHB has gained notoriety as a tool for criminal acts. Its ability to induce passivity, reduce anxiety, and cause amnesia makes it a favoured weapon for perpetrators of sexual assault, earning it the grim title of a “date rape drug”. As noted by Confirm Biosciences, “Combined with free-flowing alcohol at these parties, GHB has become a major ‘weapon’ against women (and sometimes even men) who unwittingly ingest GHB through their unattended drinks, hence its other nickname, ‘date rape drug'”. See more Similarly, Casa Palmera highlights that “GHB is sometimes referred to as the ‘date rape drug’ because it can be slipped into someone’s drink without detection”. See more. Found at clubs, parties, and raves, it is usually sold in small containers for as little as £5, hiding its devastating potential behind its affordability.
How GHB Affects the Body and Mind
GHB’s assault on the body and mind is alarming. Its effects begin within 15 to 30 minutes and can last up to six hours. Users may initially experience euphoria, drowsiness, and confusion. However, these effects can quickly escalate into serious complications. Higher doses result in unconsciousness, seizures, slowed breathing, and even coma or death. Combining GHB with alcohol or other depressants amplifies these risks significantly, often leading to tragic outcomes.
Regular misuse may also lead to addiction. Withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and increased heart rate, often compounded by psychotic episodes. The physical toll includes nausea, liver damage, kidney failure, respiratory depression, and death, offering a stark warning to those who underestimate the drug’s power.
The Legal Status of GHB
Due to its extreme potential for abuse and its lack of accepted safety, GHB is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. This designation highlights its high risk and the absence of recognised medical use outside approved pharmaceutical products like Xyrem®, which sit under Schedule III. Many of its chemical analogues, such as GBL and 1,4 BD, are legal for industrial purposes but are frequently abused, compounding the challenge of their regulation.
The Broader Threat to Society
The misuse of GHB cuts across demographics and communities, wreaking havoc on families and leaving in its wake a trail of devastation. Crime rates associated with GHB misuse have risen, with its use in sexual assault cases casting a dark shadow over social gatherings. The nature of its production—often in unregulated, illegal labs—adds to its dangers, making every dose consumed a gamble with potentially fatal consequences.
Education must remain a key tool in combating GHB misuse. Individuals and communities must recognise its threats, understand its impacts, and work towards creating an environment free of such hazards. By raising awareness about GHB and standing firm against its presence in any context, we take vital steps toward protecting lives and fostering resilience against the scourge of substance misuse.
Together, we can address the dangers posed by substances like GHB and safeguard the well-being of future generations.
Source: Campus Drug Prevention
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