The Narconon Program  has helped many people get off of club drugs like cocaine, MDMA, meth, and GHB.  In this article, we discuss GHB as both an addictive, illegal drug used recreationally, and as a date-rape tool. 

Pill in the water

GHB and Rohypnol are the classic date-rape drugs.  They are the drugs that this writer, as a teenager in the late 90’s, was warned against by magazines and popular media.  However, club drug GHB was always specifically referred to as “The Date-Rape Drug”, while Rohypnol was always referred to by its street name “roofies”. 

Rohypnol has recently begun being referred to by its proper name – pronounced “ro-hip-nawl” – and is so deeply ingrained in pop culture that it was featured in an episode of the popular British sitcom The IT Crowd .  But, GHB is the scientific name for the nebulous title of “The Date-Rape Drug” most young people know about today.  

Unfortunately, club drugs and date-rape drugs have become more popular on cruise ships – mainly as date-rape drugs.  GHB can cause amnesia and unconsciousness, and this is attractive to predators.  There are support groups for those who have become subject to these drugs against their will, and several law suits have been prosecuted on those who have taken advantage of people in the secluded, cruise ship environment.

Here are some facts about GHB:

  • “GHB” stands for “Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid”.  Street names for GHB are: G, Georgia Home Boy, Grievous Bodily Harm, and Liquid Ecstasy.
  • GHB comes in liquid, tablet, and powder form.  Often it is dissolved into a drink.  In a drink, GHB is clear and has a slight salty taste.  If the drink is flavored in anyway, GHB is virtually undetectable by the consumer.
  • GHB was legal in the US until 1990, when it was banned due to dangers associated with its use.  However, it recently became legal to prescribe specifically for a particular type of narcolepsy – which is an extreme condition where a person falls asleep in inappropriate moments, like while talking, eating, driving, etc.  The FDA has severe restrictions in place on this substance and it can literally only be prescribed for narcolepsy.  Most GHB produced in the US is produced illegally.
  • GHB is considered a designer drug as it isn’t produced in nature at all.  It can only be produced in a lab.
  • GHB is sometimes used by body builders to stimulate muscle growth.
  • It is also used by rapists to cause unconsciousness and amnesia in their victims.  Additionally, it is abused in clubs and raves.

Is GHB used exclusively by predators on unaware victims?  The answer is no.  Many people take it willingly and intentionally. The effects of GHB are (at a low dose) relaxation and anxiety relief.  At higher doses, it can cause sleep, hallucinations, slurred speech, amnesia, coma, and death.  Long-term use can lead to addiction. 

Mixing GHB and alcohol (which is often done) can lead to making a “low dose” seem like a high dose and can increase the possibility of respiratory failure and death.

If you or someone you know is addicted to GHB, or any club drug, contact us today.   Our staff have years of experience in getting people off of these types of drugs with our drug-free programCall us at 877-850-7355.

Refs: StreetDrugs.org, FBI.gov, DrugFree.org, Drug-Effects.us, Interviews, Cruise Law News, InternationalCruiseVictims.org

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DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION