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Drugged Driving

Project GHB Applauds President Bush’s Proclamation of December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

(Pasadena, California--December 19, 2001) President George W. Bush has proclaimed December to be National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.   The nonprofit organization “Project GHB” supports the President’s proclamation.  The drug GHB can impair users as much as or more than alcohol.

Project GHB is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness to the dangers of abusing the illegal drug gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and operates the website www.projectghb.org.   Project GHB wants the public to know that GHB has been the sole drug of abuse responsible for causing many traffic accidents nationwide, including a number involving fatalities, though it is also often a co-ingestant with alcohol or other drugs.  Additionally, due to lack of awareness as well as testing limitations, the presence of GHB in cases of intoxicated driving is often missed.

Public awareness of the drug GHB—aka G, Scoop, Water, Salty Water, Liquid Ecstasy, Easy Lay, Aminos, GHBuddy, Swirl, Grievous Harm to Body—is limited. It’s known either as a rape drug or a party drug. GHB can make the user intoxicated and is also used to drug victims for purposes of sexual assault.  But it is also addictive.  More than 400 people addicted to the drug in at least 40 states and several foreign countries have contacted Project GHB for help.  Virtually all addicted users report numerous impaired driving episodes, often involving traffic accidents

Sexual assault victims may end up driving a car and crashing or being arrested for drunk driving.  Because GHB typically causes amnesia, victims have little or no recall of events including the drugging, assault and subsequent driving.  Due to lack of consistent education about GHB, law enforcement agencies have sometimes refused to believe the victim allegations and have prosecuted them for drunk driving without investigating the allegations of being drugged and raped. 

Project GHB urges all law enforcement agencies to train their officers about this and other drugs used for sexual assaults so that adequate investigations may be conducted immediately and cases handled fully and accurately.

GHB Facts

Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB)

  • Is known as a party drug
  • Is frequently used to facilitate sexual assaults
  • Is advertised as a weight loss agent, bodybuilding supplement, antidepressant but in fact is a dangerous drug, which can easily cause overdose, coma and death, even when taken in small quantities.

GHB is also a highly addictive drug

  • Addicts take GHB around the clock, every two or three hours, to avoid the unpleasant and rapid onset of withdrawal. 
  • GHB addicts reach a point of not getting “high” but merely using GHB on this intense schedule to “maintain.” 
  • Many addicts experience mini-overdoses and bizarre behavior episodes, but may not realize what is happening.

GHB users unsafe drivers even when they think they are “okay.”

  • There is no preliminary screening test for GHB

  • A specific confirmation test for GHB must be requested by the hospital or detective involved.

GHB is eliminated from the body rapidly

  • Examinations and evidence collection, including urine samples, must be done immediately. 
  • Sometimes victims are transported from scene to police station to hospital, and waiting for long periods before getting medical attention.
  • Victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault should seek medical treatment and police assistance immediately. 

 

GHB addicts include those looking for a sleep aid, workout aid, weight loss aid, or sex enhancer:

  • Bodybuilders and others who work out intensely
  • Professionals businessmen who travel extensively
  • Professional athletes in a variety of sports (baseball, wrestling, football)
  • Computer programmers
  • Partygoers who attend raves, clubs, college and other parties where drugs such as GHB, ketamine and MDMA (Ecstasy) are readily available
  • Exotic dancers who believe it enhances their sexuality in performances

NOTE: GHB alone does not trigger weight loss but may seem to intensify other weight loss efforts.

Withdrawal

Can take 10-14 days with medical assistance and may involve prolonged follow-up with counseling and counseling for protracted anxiety and depression.

Common problems of the withdrawal process:

  • GHB is life endangering and should not be done without medical supervision for several days
  • Suicide as a result of intense depression is of concern during and after initial detoxification
  • Accidental overdoses may occur, especially when people attempt withdrawal on their own

GHB Addiction Helpline

Project GHB maintains a GHB Addiction Helpline via the website providing:

  • Support and information on GHB addiction and withdrawal for both the addict and the family.
  • Assistance to GHB addicts in finding help locally or as near to their location as possible.  Very few addiction treatment centers and hospitals are aware of this drug’s potentially severe withdrawal.
  • Links local doctors unfamiliar with GHB to doctors who have expertise.

GHB Analogs

  • “Chemical cousins” that convert to GHB in the body.
  • Gamma butyrolactone—GBL, furanone, furanone dihydroxy and other variations
  • 1,4 butanediol—BD, also known as tetramethylene glycol, and other variations
  • Valeric acid—GHV, gamma hydroxyvalerate, iso-valeric and other variations  

These analogs are sold illegally on the Internet, in some supplement stores and in the parking lots/locker rooms of gyms, clubs, etc., around the nation under such names as:

· Blue Nitro   · Midnight Blue  · Renewtrient   · Revivarant   · REM Nite   · Remforce

· Sublimiss  · Tranquili G   · Puritech   · Regenerize  · Solar Water   · Dream On

Other names are listed on the Web site.  Many products do not list the actual ingredients since there is no regulation in the dietary supplement industry and because it is difficult to enforce drug abuse over the Internet. There is no significant difference between taking GHB itself or one of the analogs. All are illegal under federal law and in most states, though some states currently do not have adequate analog coverage in their laws.

Hospitals and addiction centers are encouraged to contact Project GHB for information.