GHB is especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol or, as Mallard reports is common at her school, taken with ecstasy or other drugs. But contrary to common misrepresentations on the Internet, GHB also often kills or injures all by itself. So far, the government has won more than 33 GHB-related convictions. If GHB is classified as a controlled substance, the act would set forth federal penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for marketing the drug illegally. GHB has been shown to cause addiction with sustained use.
Withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, muscle cramps, tremor, and anxiety.
Whether the drug has an accepted medical use. At press time, GHB was not approved for any use in the United States but was being studied to treat the symptoms of a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. In Europe, GHB has been used as an anesthetic and experimentally to treat alcohol withdrawal. More than 20 states have already classified GHB as a controlled substance. And some other states impose criminal penalties for the drug's possession though they haven't scheduled it.