Dear Alice,
A lot of my friends have made the switch from Ecstasy to GHB. I do X
sometimes when I go to clubs, and this is fine for me. I'm just
wondering what GHB is, and if I'm missing a good time by sticking with
tradition.
X is Enough
Dear X is Enough,
In the constantly changing, and sometimes oh-so-trendy, club and party
drug scene, GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate), street-named "Grievous Bodily
Harm," appears to have blown Ecstasy (N-methyl-3,
4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, or MDMA, and X for short) right
off the dance floor over the past year or so. GHB, like many other drugs
du jour, has been around for a long time; it was developed in the 1980s as
a surgical anesthetic, but then it became popular as a muscle-building
and weight-loss potion. The sometimes unpredictable effects of GHB
vary from one person to the next, along with its potential to cause memory
loss, vertigo, reduced heart rate, seizures, respiratory failure,
and even coma, prompted the government to ban its use and sale, except
for licensed research. GHB is commonly used with other drugs,
including X, and this fact of drug life today clouds both certainty about
its effects, and whether serious incidents associated with GHB were
caused by that drug, or its combination with other substances. GHB
seems to be particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
GHB is often called "Liquid Ecstasy" because it comes in small little
bottles, with a capful of GHB providing users with X-like desires to be
"touchy-feely"; however, its overall impact is likened more to that of
acid than Ecstasy. This makes sense because GHB is a psychedelic
sleep-inducer, whereas X is a speedy amphetamine. GHB is a powerful
sedative that can leave the body limp and tired. X is frequently taken
along with GHB to counteract this sedation.
GHB may or may not be addictive, but our society's addiction to
the "better time," the "bigger TV," the "fancier car," etc., drives most
of us, sometimes, to forget our present satisfaction in the pursuit of an
even peachier life. Yes, different, stronger drugs can produce higher
highs, but they can also bring on new risks, responsibilities,
expectations, and relationships -- including how your drug use affects
people close to you.
- Alice
Related Q&As
- I'm worried about my friend's escalating drug use
Go Ask Alice! is not an emergency or instant response service. If you are in an urgent situation, please click here to view a list of 24 hour support services and hotlines.
GHB/"Liquid Ecstasy"
