To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this in attempt to give insight over the course of the past six years of my life and how GHB and other factors have led me down a path self destruction. I began using GHB, after my father passed away when I was 19. At the time I was attending community college and working as a Title Searcher for an abstract company. After doing research on the Internet and reading a book entitled “GHB: the natural mood enhancer” I was led to believe that the product was 100% safe when used as directed. In addition to this there also numerous health claims such as a better night sleep, a fat burner, a social enhancer, it was a miracle drug in fighting depression, and it also had a muscle building effect. These claims were supported by years of research by doctors and scientist. They also claimed it was not addicting; something I would find out later was far from the truth. At that time GHB was legal and could be purchased over the Internet.

I continued to use GHB for 4 years until it was made illegal, soon after a market for GHB analogs became available at any health food store, sold as Furanone, and it had the same effects. It was sold in attractive bottles and was flavored. It was legal and not regulated by the FDA under a supplement law that was passed in 1994. At this time I started buying cases at wholesale and reselling them to supplement my income, I also was working as a merchandiser for a clothing company and attended university full time on a part academic scholarship. G was a part of my identity I never left home without it I thought it was a miracle drug that helped me overcome my introverted nature. It made into the person I wanted to be, outgoing, and empathetic and there were no side effects, I was happy and healthy and in the best shape of my life.

After I graduated in Dec of 1999, I attempted to apply for various jobs at Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Lord and Taylor to name a few. After doing background check they found I had a record. This combined with having too much time on my hands led my to increase my G intake to around the clock every 4 hours to help me sleep and just to function. I was spending thousands of dollars on cases of G, I was going through a bottle every 3 days at my worst. By March of 2000 Furanone was taken off the shelf and I lost my source of income, and worse I was unable to get more G for myself. It was then I began having serious withdrawals. The withdrawals consisted of panic attacks, tremors, and delirium, visual and tactile hallucinations; sever insomnia, social anxiety disorder, and depression. I had to move home and seek medical attention from a psychiatrist, which helped a little. I was then able to work a few times a week doing landscaping for a friend, but I was still unable to go out, and was confined to my home for 6 months. I attempted to attend a computer school but I was unable to concentrate. And I had to drop out after a month.

During that period I sought to find detox facilities and doctors that were familiar with treating GHB withdrawal. I contacted a number of facilities across the state, all of which denied me, citing that they unfamiliar with my condition or that the withdrawal is life threatening and violent. I found one behavioral health center that would take me, and I was treated like just another junkie, they did not realize that I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. There was no evidence provided at the time that G was as addicting as Heroin and Cocaine, after all it was legal and sold at health

food stores. I had no health insurance and no money to pay the outrageous

fees at these private centers. I became even more depressed and went back on G when I could find it, hoping that something else will come along that might help me get off.

In July I came across a message board on the Internet that dealt with GHB addiction and withdrawal. It was there I was referred to a facility in NYC. I went in for one day it cost me $2000 and they gave me the same medication as my other doctors. The withdrawal lasts for up to 2 weeks followed up by months of depression. I realized I could not afford it and would be better off as an out- patient. I then found a doctor in Philadelphia who was familiar with G withdrawal and had a more aggressive approach to my problem, and he agreed for me to do it at home. This was successful, however for the month of August I stayed confined to my home afraid to face society once again.

By September I reentered Computer School, I continued on through November until I had a relapse. It was at this point my life took a turn for the worst, for the next 5 months I went on a binge of mixing G, cocaine, Ecstasy, and sleeping pills. I needed the drugs just to function, and to sleep. Now I’m not only addicted to G but the sleeping medication that was prescribed to me as well. I felt I needed to make up for all the time I spent at home and to forget the fact that I could not find a steady career. I was surrounded by friends who were drug dealers and users since I got out of high school and I never realized what I was doing was wrong. I have been easily influenced all my life and I never took the time to make my own decisions. No one ever sat me aside to intervene on my behalf and when family members tried I just turned a cold shoulder. I had no conscience. Using GHB made me forget about all my problems, it led me to make poor decisions without ever realizing the consequences of my actions. There were times I fell as sleep and almost burned my house down with a cigarette or cooking on the stove, or crashed my car. I am lucky to still be alive.

I realize now that it would have to come to an end some how whether I killed myself or I entered into a long-term rehab to have a complete transformation. Unfortunately it took me getting arrested to come to terms with all my problems and bring even more shame to my family and myself. However I know this is probably the best thing that could of happened, the end of the chapter of my life of drugs and the beginning of a productive, and positive long life. I want to become a different person... a much better person. Someone who doesn’t need drugs or alcohol to be social, have fun and enjoy life. I was not meant to go down this path, I came from a loving, Christian family and there is something else out there that I was meant to do with my life.

Name Withheld

From His Brother in Arkansas:

"The horror of it all; the horror." That statement can be attributed to
the character portrayed by Brando in a 70's Vietnam war movie and is a
fitting statement for those hooked to GHB.
For the record, my brother is a GHB addict. He is today in rehab and
can't wait to get out so he can get his hands on some more GHB. Oh yes, he
says he wants off (this is his third trip to rehab, all to first rate,
nationally known facilities) but the drug and its effects are just to
powerful. Coupled to this, very few drug counselors know very much about GHB
or its effects. They are used to the more common street drugs. They don't
realize it can easily be bought over the internet in bottles marked
"Cleaner". They really don't even know about the coma-like state it
produces. Hospitals don't know what to do when they get someone like my
brother who is near death when brought in but six hours later is rational
and ready to go home. Police don't know what to do with someone who is found
passed out on a street in their vehicle, registers 0 on the breathalyzer
and no drugs detected on the blood screening.

I can assure anyone who asks that this drug ruins lives. My mother and
father in their late 60's and 70's have lost years from their lives over
this. The drugs has cost him is wife and children, and me a brother. He is a
lost sole who may never return.

The stuff is so powerful, he sneaks it into rehab (he has been kicked out
of one rehab facility) and is scared to death to allow withdrawal. What is
amazing is that he goes through some withdrawal (at rehab) only to get right
back on the stuff.

When I tell people my brother is hooked on GHB, the traditional response
is "huh?". More must be done to educate the public and professionals about
this horrible drug. If more is not done, PCP, crystal meth, crack and coke
may give way to a new leader where the drug can be bought over the internet
under the label "cleaner."