Commonly Abused Drugs
Review this page which describes the acute effects and the health risks of both legal and illegal drugs.
Commonly Abused Drugs
GHB
A depressant approved for use in the treatment of narcolepsy, a
disorder that causes daytime "sleep attacks".
| Street Names | Commercial Names | Common Forms | Common Ways Taken | DEA Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G, Georgia Home Boy, Goop, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, Soap, Scoop | Gamma-hydroxybutyrate or sodium oxybate (Xyrem®) | Colorless liquid, white powder | Swallowed (often combined with alcohol or other beverages) | I |
| Possible Health Effects | |
|---|---|
| Short-term | Euphoria, drowsiness, decreased anxiety, confusion, memory loss, hallucinations, excited and aggressive behavior, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate and breathing, lower body temperature, coma, death. |
| Long-term | Unknown. |
| Other Health-related Issues | Sometimes used as a date rape drug. |
| In Combination with Alcohol | Nausea, problems with breathing, greatly increased depressant effects. |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Insomnia, anxiety, tremors, sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, psychotic thoughts. |
| Treatment options | |
| Medications | Benzodiazepines. |
| Behavioral Therapies | More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat GHB addiction. |