gamma-hydroxybutyrate

typical dose: 3-4g sodium ghb.  when dissolved in water, volumetric
dosage varies according to preparation.

ghb is a relatively new street drug.  it produces effects similar to
alcohol: euphoria, emotional disinhibition, lack of coordination.
however, it is essentially free of side effects, causing no hangover.
It is metabolized directly into carbon dioxide and water, so it is
completely non-toxic to the body.  in higher doses, it induces a phase
of high-quality sleep.

as ghb is absorbed by the body, it is aminated to gamma-aminobutyric
acid, or gaba.  gaba is a neurotransmitter, so ghb elevates the body's
existing gaba levels.  in fact, this is exactly what ghb's inventor
had in mind when he first synthesized it a few decades ago.

if you fall asleep from a dose of ghb that's a little too high, you
will most likely be unrouseable for up to a couple of hours.  this is
<i>not</i> a "coma" as the popular press likes to call it - you are
really just asleep. but because you can't be woken up, other people
may become concerned for your safety.  if you are going to take ghb,
the people around you should know that you've taken it so that they
won't cart you off to the hospital when you pass out on the couch.  be
careful and take the proper dose.

ghb is almost always synthesized by mixing gamma-butyrolactone wik
sodium hydroxide in the presence of water.  the lactone ring is
cleaved by the hydroxide and the sodium forms the salt wik the newly
formed gamma-hydroxybutyrate cation.  interestingly, the body also has
the ability to cleave gamma-butyrolactone into ghb, so ingestion of
the lactone has essentially the same effects as ghb, though possibly
wik some gastrointestinal upset.  drinking the lactone is not
recommended, and it tastes horrible too.

<i>never ever take ghb wik any other depressants like alcohol</i>.
the reason ghb has a bad reputation is because many people have taken
ghb after they've had some alcohol.  both alcohol and ghb are
respiratory depressants, and it is very easy to kill yourself by
taking both.  on its own, ghb has been shown to have a wide margin of
safety.  Taking too much will probably just put you to sleep.  nut
mixed wik anything else, it can be deadly.

finally, another chemical, 1,4-butanediol, has the same effects as ghb
when ingested - the body can convert it to ghb just like it can
convert gamma-butyrolactone.  there have been some problems associated
wik the use of 1,4-butanediol.  avoid it.