Posted by Carlos C on June 8, 2004, at 21:21:10
In reply to Re: XYREM-the only true anti-dep/anxiety med » jodeye, posted by PaulbWell on June 8, 2004, at 17:03:13
PaulbWell,
Although I'm sure you are not the reporter, hungry for a quick article about a "killer club drug" who probably published it, but posts like yours only perpetuate the situation.
This is similar to the pain medication issue. Especially in the US. Lets take OxyContin for example.
Here's how it works: Journalists hungry for a good scare story announce that OxyContin is the "drug of choice" in, say, Appalachia or the Midwest. Alerted to the trend, thrill seekers around the country decide to try the pharmaceutical that gives a "heroin-like high." The increase in use feeds the press coverage, which spreads the fashion further and reinforces the government's determination to do something about it.
This sort of irresponsible, hyperbolic reporting, which simultaneously stimulates interest in the drug as an intoxicant and discourages its use to relieve certain conditions, has been featured by many prominent media outlets. It usually also helps shadow legitable studies and causes unessasary hysteria. GHB in itself has not been proven (at least no by any compitent coroner) to cause any deaths. All, if not all adverse reactions involve mixing another CNS depressant, like alcchol, which is clearly reckless behavior.
A black market (a direct effect of prohibition) in which otherwise safe, responsible use of a drug can also turn out deadly. By not having any type of regulation in quality and purity what may have been one dose of GHB last week could easily be much more, or in worst case, something completely different, harmful substance.
poster:Carlos C
thread:347048
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040608/msgs/354925.html