What is it? GHB stands for Gammahydroxy-butyrate. (Can also be found under the name Sodium Oxybate). GHB is a man-made sedative, first synthesized in 1960.It has been used in the past (particularly in America) for a number of conditions but in recent times as a pre-med sedative. It is a colourless, odourless liquid and can have a slightly salty taste. It is usually found in small bottles in liquid form but can also be found as a powder for mixing. Whilst some people refer to it as liquid E (perhaps more of a marketing ploy than anything) it is nothing like Ecstasy.

What does it do? Remember, drug effects will largely depend on your current state of mind, who you’re with and the environment you’re in, there’s no guarantee of what will happen. Dose is also a problem as this is difficult to gauge as your size will have a bearing on its effect.

In LOW DOSES you may experience slight euphoria and a sense of well-being. Much like alcohol intoxication it can increase feelings of confidence and loss of inhibitions. Effects may last between 1-3 hours.

Even with small increases of dose, things don’t look so good. It can cause slurred speech, dizziness and lack of coordination and vomiting.

In HIGH DOSES things start to get dangerous (remember you may not know what a high dose is). High doses of GHB can make you fall asleep and be unable to wake for at least 3 hours – which will scare the hell out of your friends and family. It can also lead to coma, respiratory failure and death.

Why would anyone want to take it? It is generally used by bodybuilders to help with sleep and the belief that it helps stimulate growth hormone release, so it is only really effective with those who are training in that sense.

It is becoming popular amongst some groups of clubber in the UK with some disastrous results. There have been a number of reports of people ending up in hospital - a nightclub is no place for mixing GHB and Alcohol. Sometimes used for the dis-inhibition and muscle relaxing effects and has led to its association by other users as an aphrodisiac.

What are the risks? The main risk is the dosage problem. It is VERY difficult to know what is a high or a low dose as the margin between the two is very narrow . Remembering that it can induce sleep – mixing alcohol, sleeping pills, some anti-depressants or any other depressant with GHB should be avoided like the proverbial plague. It would be highly possible to fall asleep and choke on vomit following a drinking session or depress your respiratory system so much it stops. People have died as a result of GHB use and overdoses.

The other risk to remember is that it may not even be GHB. It could be GBL short for Gamma Butyrlactone which in some countries is sold as a dietary supplement under various brand names. GBL once in the body does convert to GHB but it would be difficult for you to know the strength of the original product. See the BBC website for latest info on GBL here.

Some people seem to have the impression that overdoses only occur when GHB is mixed with alcohol - THAT IS INCORRECT. Many people have overdosed with GHB on it's own.

Like every drug, it affects people differently and there have been adverse reactions reported:

• Muscle Contractions
• Seizure
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of Bladder control
• Sleep Walking
• Amnesia
  
  Anyone with heart, blood pressure, epilepsy or eclampsia should avoid it and especially if you are taking other drugs or alcohol.
  

TIPS TO STAY SAFE

1. Buy your own drinks and don’t take your eyes off it

2. Don’t accept drinks from strangers or bar staff

3. Stay with your mates

4. If your drink has been topped up or moved, don't drink it.

5. If you feel unwell, get one of your mates or parent to take you home – don’t accept lifts from unknown ‘well-meaning’ strangers who offer a lift home.

6. Remember MEN are just as much at risk of drink spiking as women.

7. If you begin to feel unwell after a small amount of drink - get help from someone you know and trust.

8. Drink spiking is not exclusively Alcohol related. It could be a can of pop or orange juice as well as tea or coffee.

9. If you wake up and think you may have had your drink spiked and been raped or assaulted– get in touch with the police as soon as possible. The longer you leave it the harder it is to prove as the drugs leave your system quite quickly.