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GHB: What Is It?
GHB, short for Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, is a street drug that looks like water but tastes salty. It is made from the same chemicals that are in floor stripper, degreaser, and drain cleaner, and also comes in white powder or capsule form.
You might have heard that GHB is natural and safe, because small amounts of it are found in the body. But beware—the truth is that taking man-made GHB is very dangerous! Before the risks were discovered, it was sold as a “health product,” but now we know that GHB can cause seizures, comas, and even death.
Sergeant Jill Rice of the Indiana State Police says that GHB is often mixed in unsanitary places and by people who are not chemical experts. “No two batches are the same, so you can never be sure what you are getting,” she says. “It can burn your mouth, throat, stomach, and esophagus. People have died from choking on their own vomit after taking GHB.”
The Real Dirt
An internet blogger named Leigh writes about her near-death experience with GHB. Leigh remembers waking up in the hospital and trying to scream around a respirator tube in her throat. “My family was all there crying,” she recalls. “I was lucky that I made it.”
Be Smart
Even people who don’t take drugs should be aware of this dangerous substance; many have unknowingly had their drinks poisoned.
“GHB is one of the ‘date rape’ drugs, and when it’s added to a drink, you can’t usually detect the taste,” Sergeant Rice says. “Sexual predators use it to knock girls out, and when they wake up they don’t know what has happened to them.”
To protect yourself, be cautious and never accept a drink from a stranger. Experts advise that at a party you should only drink out of a single-serving can or bottle that you open yourself. Have a friend watch it if you need to step away. If a beverage ever tastes funny to you, or flat, pour it out and get a fresh one. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and you can’t be too careful about protecting yourself from the effects of GHB.
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