Researchers first produced GHB in Europe and later tested it for use as a short-term surgical anesthetic; however, the drug never grew in popularity due to its lack of painkilling properties. In the early 1980s, GHB emerged in U.S. health food stores as a "natural" aid to body building, weight loss, and sleep. After a rash of illnesses and adverse effects, including nausea, uncontrolled shaking, coma, and even death, the Food and Drug Administration took GHB off the market in 1990. Except for research purposes, GHB is not approved for any use in the United States. Although possession of GHB is not illegal under Federal law, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits its sale and manufacture. Recently, several States have enacted legislation that classified GHB as a Schedule I drug, and 27 States have documented the illicit distribution of GHB. Clandestine domestic laboratories produce the great majority of GHB, accounting for the recent surge in illicit use in the United States. Users may offer GHB at parties by the capful, teaspoonful, dropperful, or unmeasured swig. At very low doses, GHB users report feeling effects similar to those of alcohol. Investigators have called GHB a "stealth drug" due to the difficulty in detecting its presence in the body. In most States, only specialized testing can confirm GHB in blood or urine. GHB has been used to render women unconscious while they are sexually assaulted. If investigators suspect that a victim or offender has ingested GHB, a urine sample should be obtained as quickly as possible for testing. Continued information and education about GHB will help both investigators and the public become better at recognizing and combating its use and proliferation. 23 notes