GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a central nervous system depressant drug that slows down brain activity and messages between the brain and the body. [1, 2] What GHB Looks and Tastes Like Liquid: Usually a colorless, odorless liquid with a salty or bitter taste, often sold in small vials or bottles. Other forms: Less commonly found as a powder, crystals, or colored liquid. [1, 2] Common Effects Low doses: Feelings of euphoria (intense happiness), relaxation, lowered inhibitions, sociability, and increased sex drive. Side effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, and loss of coordination. [1, 2, 3, 4] Risks and Dangers Narrow safety margin: There is a very tiny difference between a dose that causes a “high” and one that causes a life-threatening overdose (coma or slowed breathing). [1, 2, 3] Unconsciousness: It can cause sudden blackouts or a deep, coma-like sleep. [1, 2] Mixing with alcohol: Combining GHB with alcohol or other depressants is extremely dangerous and frequently fatal. [1] “Date rape” drug: Because it is liquid, colorless, and odorless, it has been used illicitly to slip into people’s drinks without their knowledge to cause memory loss and incapacitation. [1, 2, 3] Medical Uses Prescription use: A regulated form of GHB (sodium oxybate) is used legally under strict medical supervision to treat sleep disorders like narcolepsy. History: It was originally developed in the 1960s as a general anesthe