Gamma hydroxybutyrate
Street Name: GHB, GBH, gabba, liquid ecstasy
What it looks like and how it's taken:
Comes in small bottles. Colourless, odourless liquid. Sometimes in capsule form.
Swallowed.
Immediate effects:
Varies greatly in strength. Effects of small doses similar to alcohol. Larger doses said to have similar effects to ecstasy.
Risks:
Short term: Larger doses can cause drowsiness, sickness, disorientation, convulsions, coma and breathing difficulties. GHB has been linked to drug-assisted sexual assault ('date rape') when mixed with alcohol.
Long term: Long-term effects are not well understood.
Legal status: Class C
