GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, is an illegal drug that is often abused for its euphoric and sedative effects. It is typically sold as a liquid or white powder dissolved in drinks. Common street names include Easy Lay, G, and Liquid X. GHB is abused for its ability to produce euphoria, relaxation, and amnesia, making users vulnerable to assault. It can cause dangerous overdose effects such as unconsciousness, seizures, and death. GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance due to its high abuse potential and lack of accepted medical use in the United States.
GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, is an illegal drug that is often abused for its euphoric and sedative effects. It is typically sold as a liquid or white powder dissolved in drinks. Common street names include Easy Lay, G, and Liquid X. GHB is abused for its ability to produce euphoria, relaxation, and amnesia, making users vulnerable to assault. It can cause dangerous overdose effects such as unconsciousness, seizures, and death. GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance due to its high abuse potential and lack of accepted medical use in the United States.
GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, is an illegal drug that is often abused for its euphoric and sedative effects. It is typically sold as a liquid or white powder dissolved in drinks. Common street names include Easy Lay, G, and Liquid X. GHB is abused for its ability to produce euphoria, relaxation, and amnesia, making users vulnerable to assault. It can cause dangerous overdose effects such as unconsciousness, seizures, and death. GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance due to its high abuse potential and lack of accepted medical use in the United States.
GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, is an illegal drug that is often abused for its euphoric and sedative effects. It is typically sold as a liquid or white powder dissolved in drinks. Common street names include Easy Lay, G, and Liquid X. GHB is abused for its ability to produce euphoria, relaxation, and amnesia, making users vulnerable to assault. It can cause dangerous overdose effects such as unconsciousness, seizures, and death. GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance due to its high abuse potential and lack of accepted medical use in the United States.
WHAT IS GHB? Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is another name for the generic drug sodium oxybate. Xyrem (which is sodium oxybate) is the trade name of the Food and Drug Administra- tion (FDA)-approved prescription medication. Analogues that are often substituted for GHB include GBL (gamma butyrolactone) and 1,4 BD (also called just “BD”), which is 1,4-butanediol. These analogues are available legally as industrial solvents used to produce polyurethane, pesticides, elastic fibers, pharmaceuticals, coatings on metal or plastic, and other products. They are also sold illicitly as supplements for bodybuilding, fat loss, reversal of baldness, improved eyesight, and to combat aging, depression, drug addiction, and insomnia. GBL and BD are sold as “fish tank cleaner,” “ink stain remover,” “ink cartridge cleaner,” and “nail enamel remover” for approximately $100 per bottle — much more expensive than comparable products. Attempts to identify the abuse of GHB analogues are hampered by the fact that Vials containing GHB routine toxicological screens do not detect the presence of these analogues. What does it look like? GHB is usually sold as a liquid or as a white powder that is WHAT IS ITS ORIGIN? dissolved in a liquid, such as water, juice, or alcohol. GHB GHB is produced illegally in both domestic and foreign dissolved in liquid has been packaged in small vials or small clandestine laboratories. The major source of GHB on the water bottles. In liquid form, GHB is clear and colorless and street is through clandestine synthesis by local operators. slightly salty in taste. At bars or “rave” parties, GHB is typically sold in liquid form by the capful or “swig” for $5 to $25 per cap. Xyrem How is it abused? has the potential for diversion and abuse like any other GHB and its analogues are abused for their euphoric and pharmaceutical containing a controlled substance. calming effects and because some people believe they build muscles and cause weight loss. GHB has been encountered in nearly every region of the country. GHB and its analogues are also misused for their ability to increase libido, suggestibility, passivity, and to cause amnesia (no memory of events while under the influence of the What are common street names? substance) — traits that make users vulnerable to sexual Common street names include: assault and other criminal acts. t Easy Lay, G, Georgia Home Boy, GHB, Goop, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, and Scoop
www.dea.gov GHB abuse became popular among teens and young adults at Currently, there is no antidote available for GHB intoxication. dance clubs and “raves” in the 1990s and gained notoriety as GHB analogues are known to produce side effects such as: a date rape drug. GHB is taken alone or in combination with t Topical irritation to the skin and eyes, nausea, vomiting, other drugs, such as alcohol (primarily), other depressants, incontinence, loss of consciousness, seizures, liver dam- stimulants, hallucinogens, and marijuana. age, kidney failure, respiratory depression, and death The average dose ranges from 1 to 5 grams (depending on the What are its overdose effects? purity of the compound, this can be 1-2 teaspoons mixed in a GHB overdose can cause death. beverage). However, the concentrations of these “home-brews” have varied so much that users are usually unaware of the actual Which drugs cause similar effects? dose they are drinking. GHB analogues are often abused in place of GHB. Both GBL and BD metabolize to GHB when taken and produce effects What is its effect on the mind? similar to GHB. GHB occurs naturally in the central nervous system in very small CNS depressants such as barbiturates and methaqualone also amounts. Use of GHB produces Central Nervous System (CNS) produce effects similar to GHB. depressant effects including:
t Euphoria, drowsiness, decreased anxiety, confusion, and What is its legal status in the United States? memory impairment GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning that it has GHB can also produce both visual hallucinations and — a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in paradoxically — excited and aggressive behavior. GHB treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for greatly increases the CNS depressant effects of alcohol and use under medical supervision. FDA-approved GHB products are other depressants. Schedule III substances under the Controlled Substances Act. In addition, GBL is a List I chemical. What is its effect on the body? It was placed on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act GHB takes effect in 15 to 30 minutes, and the effects last 3 to 6 in March 2000. However, when sold as FDA-approved GHB hours. Low doses of GHB produce nausea. products (such as Xyrem), it is considered Schedule III, one of At high doses, GHB overdose can result in: several drugs that are listed in multiple schedules.
t Unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, greatly slowed
breathing, lower body temperature, vomiting, nausea, coma, and death Regular use of GHB can lead to addiction and withdrawal that includes: t Insomnia, anxiety, tremors, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and occasional psychotic thoughts
(Advances in Behavioral Biology 21) Craig Van Dyke, Robert Byck (Auth.), Everett H. Ellinwood JR., M. Marlyne Kilbey (Eds.) - Cocaine and Other Stimulants-Springer US (1977)
