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Ashlin Rohbock

04/015/2016
Life, Society, & Drugs
Ibarra
5 Page Research Paper: GHB
GHB is a powerful synthetic drug that has euphoric and sedative effects. It acts as
depressant on the central nervous system. It is rapidly metabolized by the body. The effects of the
drug can be felt within fifteen to twenty minutes after ingestion. (RTC) GHB is also a Schedule
1 substance, meaning that there is no accepted medical use, has a high potential for abuse, and
lacks safe-use guidelines. GHB (like Rohpynol and Ketamine) are all club drugs that are used
in sexual assault. Several characteristics of GHB make it especially dangerous: First, it takes a
very small amount (e.g., a few drops, a capful) to have a big effect. It is easy to overdose.
Second, when GHB is used alone, or when it is mixed with alcohol and other drugs, it may cause
death. Third, most of the GHB being used today is the "homegrown" variety. It is made by nonprofessionals in their own "street labs," kitchens, or bathtubs by mixing various chemical
ingredients. There may be significant differences in the purity, concentration, and potency of
various batches. The same amount taken from two separate batches may have very different
effects. (RTC)
GHB is made from gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium
Hydroxide. So, in other words, GHB is made of the equivalent of degreasing solvent, (or a floor
stripper) mixed with drain cleaner. There are also four different types of GHB, they are as
follows: GBL, Na-GHB, K-GHB, and GHB-OH. The following forms as described as: GHB-

OH Has chemically taste. (no tactile, body sensation, etc) This is the more common variety,
had doses of about 15-17mL and re-doses of half of that. Firstly, we used to get what we thought
was GBL, diluted in water. (GBL reacts spontaneously with H2O until it reaches an equilibrium
that is both GBL and GHB. This stuff tasted SALTY kinda like double salted licorice. In the
concentration that we had it in, it took about 1mL per 10kgs. The effects we probably the closest
I have ever felt to MDMA. It also made my body very sensitive, and gave shadows (ie: after
piggy-backing someone, I could still feel them on my back for some time.) Also if 1mL or so
too much was taken, it would normally give a nauseous feeling that USUALLY went after 10-15
mins.Re-doses were usually around 50-75% of the original dose. Next we got some stuff that was
VERY similar to the salty stuff. Though it smelt of floor polish and also tasted slightly soapy. (It
still had a bit of a salty taste) This stuff was less potent and re-doses of equal (one time it needed
125 amounts were needed. (Bluelight)
GHB has many different street names, and a few of which are as follows: G, Gamma-OH,
Liquid E, Georgia Home-Boy, Grevious Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Liquid Ecstasy, Scoop, Water,
Everclear, Great Hormones at bedtime, GBH, Soap, Easy, Salty Water, G-Riffick, Cherry Meth,
Organic Quaalude, and Jib. GHB has many uses, and a few of which are the following: GHB is
used for weight loss, muscle building, and relief of some fibromyalgia symptoms including
pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. It is also used as an alternative to the dietary supplement Ltryptophan for promoting relaxation and sleepiness. People who are addicted to alcohol or
narcotic drugs sometimes use GHB to help them manage withdrawal symptoms. It is also used to
cause sexual arousal. (WebMD) Although GHB can be used for all these positive and helpful
reasons, it can also be used for the worse. GHB is also used as a date rape drug. Statistics show
that 1 in 4 (women) college students are either date raped, or experience attempted date rape.

This study also went on to show that eighty four percent of women who have experienced rape,
knew their attackers. And that women between ages 16-24 are four times more likely to be date
raped.
There are many acute effects of GHB a few being the following: dizziness, nausea,
vomiting, confusion, seizures, respiratory depression, intense drowsiness, amnesia, euphoria,
lack of inhibitions, agitation, blurred vision, and unconsciousness. Other more serious effects can
lead to a come or even death. Some chronic effects are: Difficulty concentrating,
hallucinations, slurred speech, headaches, amnesia, respiratory depression, mouth sores and
infections, cardiovascular collapse, muscle pain, extreme anxiety, and seizures. (ProjectKnow)
Being a schedule 1 drug, there are no accepted medical uses for GHB (in the club scene
of course.) This being said, there is a great new technology that is in the works, and this item is
quite the unexpected. It is a nail polish that was developed by a few college students, that has the
ability to detect whether or not the drink has been drugged. GHB is odorless, and oftentimes
tasteless and colorless, so this (among other date rape drugs) can oftentimes go easily undetected,
although this wont be the case for much longer. This new nail polish has the ability to detect
whether or not there is a drug in the drink, simply by having the wearer dip her finger into the
drink. The polish starts off as a light pink, and depending on the drug and its potency, will get
darker, with the most severe amount turning the polish black. This will be a great innovative
design, once the product actually hits the market, because this is the first style based item that
will help women against the gruesome attack of being date raped.
GHB is a drug that is oftentimes mixed with alcohol and/or other drugs, making it hard to
find lots of information on. The little information and statics that I was able to gather though,
brought forth some quite shocking information. The latest statistic information I was able to

round up dated back to the late nineties, but the information still seems to hold true. In 1998,
GHB (alone) led to 1,343 emergency room visits. In 1992, GHB also caused 3,500 overdoses.
Being almost two decades later, its quite fair to suggest that these numbers have only increased
dramatically due to societys ever so growing involvement with parties, clubbing, musical
festivals etc. Other shocking facts about GHB, is that approximately 1,872 women are raped a
day in the United States (and its safe to assume that a large majority of these instances are
caused by date rape.)
Obviously for this paper, I am focusing on the negative side of GHB, and its synthetic
form, thats often used in the club scene. Although, there is another form of GHB that is used in
for medicinal purposes. GHB used to be available as a dietary supplement in the U.S., but it was
taken off the market in 1990 because of safety concerns. GHB and two closely related chemicals,
gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and butanediol (BD), were linked to 3 deaths and 122 serious side
effects. Nevertheless, secret production and sales of GHB continued, often on the Internet.
Continued interest in GHB might have been fueled by GHBs reputation as a date rape drug.
Under the Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000, regulation tightened. GHB was classified as
a Schedule I controlled substance, like heroin. It is now illegal for Americans to produce, sell, or
possess GHB except for medical use. A prescription form of GHB remains available, but the only
legal access to this drug is through a physician or other healthcare provider who is licensed to
prescribe medications. (WebMD) I feel that it is very important for the consumer to know and
recognize that there are essentially two types of GHB, and one can obviously be used for health
purposes, whereas the other one is merely for pleasure.
I was also curious while doing all this research as to whether or not laws have been
established in order to prevent the use of GHB. I take GHB abuse very seriously, being that I am

a young girl, and the statistics are there to show that girls my age are four times more likely to
become a victim of date rate, especially on a college campus. The following excerpt comes from
an online article, discussing how GHB prevention is being spread: In Atlanta, GHB is
commonly used as synthetic steroid at fitness centers and gyms. There are reports that GHB is
available in Tennessee and is used primarily by rave club party goers to enhance the effects of
alcohol. As with Rohypnol and Clonazepam, GHB has been associated with sexual assault in
cities throughout the country. To counter-act this in 1996, Congress passed the Drug-Induced
Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996. This legislation increased federal penalties for
use of any controlled substance to aid in sexual assault. (TAADAS)
I think that it is a great idea to have an essential penalty for those whom choose to abuse
this drug. How is one supposed to learn from their mistakes (poor choices) if there is no
consequence? I also believe that this is a great time to take advantage of social media, and how
society can come together as a whole to spread overall awareness of not only GHB, but other
similar drugs that are used all too often in the act of sexual assault. Companies like Undercover
Colors can team with private organizations and different movements, to help individuals protect
themselves from the violent act of rape.
Overall, this was a great assignment to better my knowledge of drugs in general, and the
all-too-real consequences that an individual has to face once they become addicted to this
substance. This paper was a great opportunity for me to become better aware of situations that I
could potentially face now, and in the years to come. I love that I now know many resources of
how to handle myself in certain instances, and to know that as long as Im self-aware, that I have
a greater chance of being able to protect myself from the devilish grasp that drugs such as GHB
has on an individual

Works Cited
"Effects of GHB | Rape Treatment Center." Effects of GHB | Rape Treatment Center. Web. 15
Apr. 2016.
"GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE GHB: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings WebMD." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
"GHB Facts." GHB Facts. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
"The Effects of GHB Abuse." GHB Effects Short and Long-Term Effects of GHB Abuse. Web.
17 Apr. 2016.
"Thread: Na-GHB, K-GHB, GHB-OH and GBL." Bluelight RSS. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
"What Is GHB?" What Is GHB? Web. 15 Apr. 2016.

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