Freiburg, Germany - GHB has been dubbed "liquid ecstasy," a misleading name if ever there was one. Short for gamma hydroxybutyrate, GHB is chemically unrelated to its fellow club drug Ecstasy. It also has a completely different effect.

Classified as a narcotic in Germany, GHB gained notoriety as "knockout drops" following reports that women were sexually assaulted after consuming it. Drug experts warn that a few drops too many can lead to loss of consciousness, and even death.

GHB became popular among body builders in the 1980s because of its anabolic effects. It fell under German narcotics laws in 2002, and its possession and distribution are banned.

GHB continues to be used nonetheless, mainly by young people. It is usually drunk, either straight or mixed, according to Marita Voelker-Albert of Germany's Federal Centre for Health Education in Cologne.

"We think the problem is growing," remarked Volker Auwaerter, a forensic toxicologist at Freiburg University Hospital's Institute for Forensic Medicine. If it is, one reason is that GBL (gamma butyrolactone), the precursor of GHB, is sold freely.

"It's hard to believe, but people drink the stuff voluntarily," said Stephan Hog, a member of Eclipse, a Berlin-based club that describes its work as "acceptance-oriented drug counselling and psychedelic crisis intervention."

In Hog's view, "liquid ecstasy" is not really suitable for partying. "In small doses it may well have a euphoric effect," he said. But besides inducing feelings of happiness and relaxation, it also causes drowsiness.

GHB has attracted attention as a date rape drug used to spike women's drinks. Two of GHB's effects are increased libido and, in large doses, a coma-like sleep.

"We've had cases of people suddenly falling asleep and collapsing while dancing," Hog related. These sleep attacks, Auwaerter said, could result in considerable injuries.

An overdose of GHB causes dizziness, headaches and nausea. The latter effect is potentially fatal because users who lose consciousness can choke on their vomit.

Such serious consequences are not all that unlikely given the extremely fine line between intoxication and an overdose, Auwaerter said. "It can happen quite easily if one takes a little more, or if the intervals between doses are too short," he noted.

Hog pointed out that it was impossible to dose GHB precisely since users never knew how concentrated it was. People who consumed drugs should stick to one at a time because mixing them had effects that were much more difficult to predict, he said.

Hog strongly warned against mixing GHB with alcohol. GHB in combination with opiates or medications can also have dire consequences. (dpa)