DANGER SCALE
GHB
Gamma Hydroxybutyrate or GHB, also known as the “date rape” drug. It’s a central nervous system depressant and at low doses it can produce effects of euphoria. High doses of this drug can cause blackouts and amnesia. Medically, it’s used to treat sleep disorders like insomnia and narcolepsy. In 1990, the FDA issued an advisory declaring GHB use unsafe and illegal except under FDA approved, physician-supervised protocols. In March 2000, GHB was placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. However, the sodium salt of GHB is used as a prescription drug known as Xyrem (sodium oxybate). In 2002, the FDA approved Xyrem for the treatment of narcolepsy. It is a highly regulated prescription medicine classified as a Schedule III controlled substance and requires patient enrollment in a restricted access program.
What is it?
Gamma Hydroxybutyrate or GHB, also known as the “date rape” drug. It’s a central nervous system depressant and at low doses it can produce effects of euphoria. High doses of this drug can cause blackouts and amnesia. Medically, it’s used to treat sleep disorders like insomnia and narcolepsy. In 1990, the FDA issued an advisory declaring GHB use unsafe and illegal except under FDA-approved, physician-supervised protocols. In March 2000, GHB was placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. However, the sodium salt of GHB is used as a prescription drug known as Xyrem (sodium oxybate). In 2002, the FDA approved Xyrem for the treatment of narcolepsy. It is a highly regulated prescription medicine classified as a Schedule III controlled substance and requires patient enrollment in a restricted access program.
Other names
Scoop, liquid E, liquid X, Georgia Home Boy
How do people get it?
GHB can be bought on the streets or on the internet.
How is it dangerous?
When GHB is mixed with alcohol it causes faster intoxication, loss of control movements and coordination, vomiting, and more. Withdrawal from GHB can be severe and should be monitored by a medical professional.
Shannon Weir, RN