GHB, The Date Rape Drug
(Such)
GHB, otherwise known as the date rape drug, is a much more dangerous threat to our society than most people know. It is not known to be a commonly used drug because most people assume that it is only used to sedate and rape people. That is where most people go wrong, it turns out that it is also a very common club drug much like ecstasy. The dangers of the drug are very extreme, but it is such a rarely known drug that most people have not heard them. This can also be attributed to the fact that GHB leaves the body in a relatively short amount of time. The usual time it takes to clear the system is only 4-12 hours; thus, it is hardly traced when a death occurs from it and when someone is hospitalized by it(projectghb). It's chemical name is gamma hydroxy butyrate which is where the name GHB comes from. There are also many different street names such as, G, fantasy, liquid ecstasy, water, Georgia Home Boy, and Grievous Bodily Harm. It also comes in a couple different forms such as a clear liquid and a white powder (Brown).
(DPS)
GHB affects the brain in several ways all leading to the "high" of the drug. GHB is actually produced in the brain, but in such small doses that it has no affect on the person. It is when more GHB is added that it becomes dangerous and has an affect on the person. The part of the brain that naturally creates GHB is the GABA neurotransmitter after it has been synthesized. These are found and produce GHB in the substantia nigra, thalamus and hypothalamus (Seen at right).
It's affects on the neurotransmitters in the brain are what cause the person to get a "high". The ones affected are the acetylcholine, serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. It increases acetylchline and serotonin levels, but decreases dopamine levels. It's not for sure what pathways GHB uses since research has not been done for long, but it is known that it synthesizes the GABA and GHB receptors to cause the increase in serotonin and acetylcholine and it blocks the uptake of dopamine.(Cartage) (Cartage)
(UDEL)
The "high" from the drug is from the way it affects consciousness. From low doses, common symptoms from the drug are relieving anxiety, intoxication, increased social abilities, relaxation and euphoria. This is why the drug was sold as a sleep aid for sometime and many people take it to calm themselves. It gets really dangerous with higher doses when symptoms like sleep, nausea, convulsions, seizures, vomiting, dizziness, coma and death may occur. With low doses, consciousness is reduced and this is why such symptoms occur. With high doses, your mind becomes unconscious and that is why symptoms like sleep and coma occur. These affects can last from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the dose taken.(GDCADA)
(harderfaster)
(Such)
GHB, otherwise known as the date rape drug, is a much more dangerous threat to our society than most people know. It is not known to be a commonly used drug because most people assume that it is only used to sedate and rape people. That is where most people go wrong, it turns out that it is also a very common club drug much like ecstasy. The dangers of the drug are very extreme, but it is such a rarely known drug that most people have not heard them. This can also be attributed to the fact that GHB leaves the body in a relatively short amount of time. The usual time it takes to clear the system is only 4-12 hours; thus, it is hardly traced when a death occurs from it and when someone is hospitalized by it(projectghb). It's chemical name is gamma hydroxy butyrate which is where the name GHB comes from. There are also many different street names such as, G, fantasy, liquid ecstasy, water, Georgia Home Boy, and Grievous Bodily Harm. It also comes in a couple different forms such as a clear liquid and a white powder (Brown).
(DPS)
GHB affects the brain in several ways all leading to the "high" of the drug. GHB is actually produced in the brain, but in such small doses that it has no affect on the person. It is when more GHB is added that it becomes dangerous and has an affect on the person. The part of the brain that naturally creates GHB is the GABA neurotransmitter after it has been synthesized. These are found and produce GHB in the substantia nigra, thalamus and hypothalamus (Seen at right).
It's affects on the neurotransmitters in the brain are what cause the person to get a "high". The ones affected are the acetylcholine, serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. It increases acetylchline and serotonin levels, but decreases dopamine levels. It's not for sure what pathways GHB uses since research has not been done for long, but it is known that it synthesizes the GABA and GHB receptors to cause the increase in serotonin and acetylcholine and it blocks the uptake of dopamine.(Cartage) (Cartage)
(UDEL)
The "high" from the drug is from the way it affects consciousness. From low doses, common symptoms from the drug are relieving anxiety, intoxication, increased social abilities, relaxation and euphoria. This is why the drug was sold as a sleep aid for sometime and many people take it to calm themselves. It gets really dangerous with higher doses when symptoms like sleep, nausea, convulsions, seizures, vomiting, dizziness, coma and death may occur. With low doses, consciousness is reduced and this is why such symptoms occur. With high doses, your mind becomes unconscious and that is why symptoms like sleep and coma occur. These affects can last from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the dose taken.(GDCADA)
(harderfaster)
Works Cited
"
"GDCADA | Greater
"Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)." Kid Zone. 24 Oct. 2008
"Home." Home.
"Iowa Department of Public Safety." Iowa Department of Public Safety.
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