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before the federal government. 
In addition to blaming GHB for the rape of innocent girls (conveniently overlooking the long-established role of alcohol), the accusers also claimed that the ingestion of GHB induced coma, convulsions, acute poisoning and addiction...none of which can be substantiated by scientific evidence. In fact, one would have to ingest more than half a pound of the undiluted powder at one sitting in order to achieve a lethal dose. 
Meanwhile, no less than fifteen pharmaceutical companies have applied to the FDA for an IND (Investigational New Drug) permit, which would give them permission to package and sell some form of GHB. Could it be that they see a profit in the future? Is it possible that the pharmaceutical corporations want to see this very effective, inexpensive substance taken out of the marketplace so that they can introduce their own patented versions?
The GHB story is a complex one. This article only scratches the surface, but should be enough to raise some serious questions about how this latest drug menace came about.
The role of the media is transparent. They love drug hysteria. Date-rape, comas, seizures, overdose all make good headlines, and the media are not required to back up their stories with any credible evidence. Their goal is to grab attention, too often through sensationalistic tactics.
What about law enforcement agencies, especially the Drug Enforcement Administration? Why would they slander and misrepresent a substance with proven medical value with their fabricated and exaggerated stories, which they routinely feed to the press? What is their angle?
One doesn't have to look far for an answer. They have succeeded in adding another drug that needs to be policed. And that calls for more manpower, money and technical support...in short, an expansion of their forces.
The quiet role of the pharmaceutical giants has already been mentioned. Since

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countries prescribe GHB for a variety of conditions. Surprisingly, it has been found to be very effective in the treatment of narcolepsy as well as insomnia. It is widely used as an anxiolytic for adults suffering from anxiety attacks and mild depression. and to stimulate growth hormone release in the elderly. German physicians are currently studying its possible use as a mild anesthetic. Perhaps its most common and effective use is in treating drug addicts, particularly the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol and opiate addiction.
Unfortunately, these beneficial uses of GHB never caught on in the U.S., mainly because the research literature is in European languages, which few American physicians can or take the time to read. Instead, GHB use in America grew through word of mouth, first among body-builders and ultimately through the party scene, where people soon learned of its potential to produce feelings of euphoria and eros.
So, how did it come to pass that a substance with so many beneficial medical uses in Europe gets designated as a Schedule I drug in the U.S., which, by definition, means that it has a "high potential for abuse," "no currently acceptable medical use," and "lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision"? Where are the scientific studies or testimony from physicians that led the U.S. Congress (and the Hawai'i State Legislature) to reach these conclusions?
Sad to say, there are none. These law-making bodies made their decisions on the basis of information fed to them by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, none of which was scientifically or factually based. In fact, most of it is myth which played well in the legislative halls as well in the media.
In spite of its beneficial uses, GHB was demonized as the "date-rape drug" by both law enforcement and the media. Although not one single case of a date rape in which GHB was used has been established in Hawai'i, legislators swallowed the propaganda as gospel truth, and proceeded to outlaw it even
It was discovered and synthesized in 1961 by a French nobel-laureate, Dr. Henri-Marie Laborit, while doing research on brain chemistry.  After he presented his findings to the scientific community, it was widely studied and used by European physicians as a mild anesthetic, treatment for insomnia and narcolepsy, an aid to childbirth, treatment for alcohol and opiate withdrawal, and as a general mood enhancer for people suffering from anxiety and mild depression.  During the 1980s, GHB was widely available over-the-counter in health food stores in the U.S., where it was used mainly by body-builders who discovered its potential for stimulating growth hormone release
GHB is usually found in clear liquid form, and is taken in small, teaspoon size doses. It is recognizable by its salty taste, which comes from sodium hydrochloride, one of the components of most synthesized mixtures. It can be easily produced, requiring minimal equipment (glass or stainless steel containers, a spoon), distilled water, and two ingredients which, until recently, were available through pharmacies and industrial chemical suppliers. With minimal knowledge of chemistry, one could brew a substantial amount for only a few dollars. Kits for making GHB were available from several Internet sites until 1999.
As GHB became more widely used, people observed that it was a mood enhancer, inducing short-term euphoria as well as aphrodisiac effects. Amazingly, GHB was found to ameliorate many of the conditions that are treated by such prescription drugs as Valium, Prozac, Ambien, Creatine and Viagra, and without any of the side effects. Small wonder that it began to grow in popularity, especially among the youthful "rave" crowd, which is what led to its being designated a scheduled drug, first by several state legislatures and recently by the U.S. Congress.
Since its discovery in France, European physicians and researchers have continued to study and use GHB as medicine. Sold as Gamma OH in France,