Isn gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) a natural, safe chemical?
Many people believe that anything “natural” is safe. GHB is derived as a natural metabolite of the brain transmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). But many highly poisonous chemicals occur in nature. Even chemicals that occur naturally in the body can, in some doses, cause great harm. For example, adrenaline, a natural chemical found in the body, can cause death taken in a dose higher than normally found in the body. The term “natural” does not imply “safe.” In this case, GHB-induced illnesses range from nausea and vomiting to respiratory problems, seizures, comas and death.
