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Article: House Votes to Put GHB On List of Illegal Drugs; Diet Supplement Linked to Deaths, 'Date Rape'
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- February 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The House yesterday gave final approval to a bill that would list
a powerful diet supplement and "date rape" drug as a controlled
substance carrying the same penalties as the most powerful illegal
narcotics.
The bill covers gamma hydroxybutyric acid, also known as GHB, and
similar substances, which are touted by Internet vendors as helpful
additives that promote everything from sound sleep to bigger muscles
and better sex.
But the Food and Drug Administration has documented 58 deaths from
GHB and its analogues, known as GBL, BD or 1,4 butanediol, and since
August 1999, the FDA has received 122 reports from health
professionals around the country of serious GHB abuse.
The bill was approved by ...