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Project GHB News
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Project GHB News is an Internet newsletter delivering the latest information about GHB and its precursors, and various other recreational drug news. We rely on your input and welcome articles written by subscribers, doctors, nurses, emergency medical personnel, and other individuals affected by the use of GHB. Send news items or full length articles to the editor. Features
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Don't forget trendydrugs.org - not just GHB info, but lots of stuff on MDMA (exstasy) and more. Thank you for subscribing. Please forward this to anyone who may have interest. Automatically recommend the website and newsletter by clicking here: recommend There are 1,043
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In This Issue
Media Articles
Featured Websites
TECH TV STORY!
Digital
Dealers - Sellers of illegal drugs find brand-new marketplace on street
corners of information superhighway. By Jack Karp October 9, 2001 -
See what a GHB Trip looks like - first time on TV. |
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Chase Taylor, 18, died July 15 of an apparent overdose of GHB in Kill Devil Hills, NC. A former wrestler, he had been drinking vodka and a clear liquid when he began vomiting, passed out and never regained consciousness. An editorial in the Virginian-Pilot talks about his friends paying tribute as his ashes were sprinkled on the Atlantic Ocean and warned of the risks of this drug. For the full article, see Alexander Klochkoff, 20, was found unconscious outside a University of Maryland frat house September 5th. GHB intoxication contributed to his death, according to the coroner. http://www.sunspot.net/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=bal%2Dmd%2Eghb13oct13 More than 215 GHB related death reports have now been gathered by Trinka Porrata via the news and death reports completed on this website and other sources. Not all have been confirmed and documented. Some are too vague to be able to locate further details at this time. The website death list will be updated soon (names of the victims and sources will not be used on the website). People are encouraged to fill out the death report form and provide complete information. This is important in order to bring appropriate attention to the deaths and injuries caused by GHB. It is hoped that this will result in more accurate information being distributed about GHB and thus help to prevent future deaths. Feel free to complete a death report form whether or not we may already have that case. The additional information you provide may be vital to us as we may not have adequate details. A research doctor is going to be reviewing more of these cases soon to improve the medical field’s knowledge of what mechanism of death was involved and how these cases might be prevented, better emergency room treatment, etc.
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Viewer CommentsTo 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 delium, 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 See other comments submitted since 1998 ArticlesWake Up Call to Parents, Teachers,
Law Enforcement et al
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Powerful message to students about drugs! By Trinka Porrata Drug Consultant (Retired Narcotics Detective) Trinka’s latest Power Point product - 67 slides for high school/college students; notes provided for each slide. Lots of photos. Vary it by using “hide slide” feature. Customize for your locale. If you aren’t talking to young people today about these drugs, maybe you aren’t talking to them at all! Covers general drug issues, but focuses on latest club drugs, plus includes steroids, sexual assault (for both male & female) and even over-the-counter medications/supplements. It’s the presentation she has been using; young audiences have been hungry for the dialogue. Trinka’s PP presentations for the law enforcement & medical community on club drugs and how to investigate drug-facilitated sexual assault are in use nationwide. Now this presentation joins the list. (To order her other CDs, visit www.trendydrugs.org). Your purchase of this CD via this flyer will help fund Project GHB, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing accurate info about the drug GHB. Visit www.projectghb.org for more info on GHB. Do YOU recognize warning signs of abuse/possession of MDMA (Ecstasy or XTC or X) and GHB (Scoop or G or Liquid X) or ketamine (Special K or Vitamin K or Cat Tranquilizer) or LSD (Acid)? If you don’t know what baby pacifiers/lollipops, vapor rub inhalers & glow sticks (related to XTC) or bubble solution containers, mouthwash & water bottles (GHB) & breathe mint bottles (LSD) can mean, YOU need to know. Bet most of your students do . But, do they know the true risks of ingesting these and other drugs? They need to know.ORDER FORM A Word To Our Students Power Point presentation CD For further info, contact Elise at 909-585-7485 or email EliseProjectGHB@aol.comTo order CD, mail your order request to:
Ship to (name/company): ________________________ # CDs ordered _____ Price $ _______ $50 each/3 for $125/5 for $200
Make check or money order payable to: Project GHB PO #s OK for government/public agencies. NOTE: Permission is granted to adapt the presentation to buyer’s needs. Permission is NOT granted to make & distribute additional copies. Further discounts are available. Contact Trinka or Kim at 626-577-5204 for special discount consideration for larger orders and to order Trinka’s other training CDs. |
Another Tragic Loss
The story below is sad indeed and unfortunately, all too representative of the cases we see. Sometimes we are lucky and families or the addicts themselves do find our website and addiction helpline in time. Every thing Brett went through as described by his sister is classic of GHB addiction and the battle to stop. Trying to get off of GHB without (informed) medical assistance and (involved) family support is all too difficult. Brett’s family wasn’t really given a chance to help him through this and that only intensifies the pain. Help is available and even if medical supervision isn’t possible because of lack of insurance, it should not be attempted alone.
No, not everyone has a difficult and dangerous withdrawal, but no one can predict who will and who won’t have a tough time. You don’t know until in the middle of a bad one and then you alone may be too fuzzy to make the right decisions. We see suicides during and after withdrawal in some cases. And, we see accidental overdoses, as may well have been the case here, when trying to self-doctor and escape from the monster alone.
Of course, we aren’t miracle workers either. Not everyone makes the escape safely, no matter how much medical supervision and family support. Those with prior depression and other deeply entrenched issues, for example, may have too many battles to fight to win the war, but with the right assistance, the odds improve greatly.
We now have more than 215 GHB related deaths reported to us from various sources. Not all have been verified and some may never be since the information given is too vague to follow up adequately. If you know someone who is taking GHB, go to them and offer information and support. Ask them to read the viewers comments section at www.projectghb.org. You can make a difference. ---Trinka Porrata
A Special Tribute to…. My Brother, My Friend...
Hi. My brother is (was) Brett. He was my best friend. Now, he is the last thing I think of before I go to sleep, and the first thing I think of when I wake up.
I want to share his story. Maybe it will sound familiar to someone out there.
My brother loved life. He reveled in all that is beautiful and sunlight followed him. But he didn't always see the sun. Lately, most of the time all he saw was darkness.
He had periods of sadness that overtook him. His doctor gave him Prozac. For over 10 years he took it faithfully. He lived with my parents, who adored him. Sometimes he couldn't sleep very well, so he asked his doctor for something to help him, and was told no. So, he ordered some GHB on the Internet. It worked wonders!! He talked more, he smiled more, he slept more and the demons that haunted him went away…....for a while. Then, after taking it to help him sleep for about 6 months, he found he needed it to wake up, to move, to speak, and go back to sleep again. After trying to quit twice, and going back because the pain was too much, he decided to try to medicate himself through withdrawal. My father found him many times incoherent, or unconscious when on GHB. It was terrifying. He went to the hospital once and they waited for him to wake up, and sent him home. No follow up, no counseling.
All of the sites I visited on the Internet said to let them sleep it off. So we did. Then, he decided to quit for good, I think. He took blood pressure medication for the rapid heartbeat, and antihistamine for the insomnia. But, in the throes of withdrawal, he experienced delirium, and confusion, and he took 4 times the lethal dose of blood pressure medication. And topped it off with 3 times the lethal dose of antihistamine.
He was just trying to make the pain of stopping GHB go away. Or, maybe, death looked better than living with this pain. Anyway, it took him. Even if not directly, it was the reason for his death. My father came home and found him in the garage. He called 911 and gave him mouth to mouth, but it was too late.
My father will never be the same man he was before. His eyes are not as bright, he walks bent, and his mind wanders, trying to figure out why. There was no note, presents he had bought hidden around, no goodbyes, no chance to save him. This drug doesn't let up. It sucked the life from Brett. He couldn't leave the house in the end. He couldn't hold a conversation when he tried to stop. He was not himself for about a month before he passed. It is hell to watch someone you love fight a battle within himself, and never seem to get ahead. He was just.........lost.
I miss him. I miss his laughter, his smile, his sarcasm. I miss everything about him. No one could have predicted the course this drug would take on him. And no one can predict what effect it will have on someone else. It is rabid. It eats at your soul. In the end you are left empty, sad and hopeless.
Please, if someone out there is using GHB and thinks that they are addicted, contact someone here (www.projectghb.org). They can and will help you. There is a light at the end of this dark journey. Don't give up. And don't think you can win your battle alone. You don't know what you are in for, they do.
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Editor's note: Pop on over to the GHB Addiction and Withrawal Message Board to see how GHB addiction has affected many people in many different ways.
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Copyright © 2001 Project GHB, Inc.
Project GHB
"Creating public awareness
of the dangers of GHB"
Project GHB exists to educate the public about the dangers of the substance GHB
which has become an increasingly popular drug of choice, causing addiction,
injuries and death. Our goal is to save lives.
Project GHB is a 501c3 non-profit corporation
Project GHB, Inc.
P.O. Box 710693
San Diego, CA 92171
www.projectGHB.org