This powerful documentary-style video alerts viewers to the very grave dangers of GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), a popular club drug with nicknames such as “Georgia Home Boy,” or “Grievous Bodily Harm.” GHB is an addictive sedative that is popular among teens who mistakenly assume that it is a safe drug, since it was once sold in stores as a food supplement. In fact, GHB was banned from legal sale in 1990, and in recent years has caused more overdoses and deaths than Ecstasy. Viewers learn that GHB, which is created in illegal and “dirty” labs, is a powerful depressant that is often used as a date rape drug. Odorless, tasteless and colorless, it can be slipped into drinks without detection. Video includes a jolting interview with Judi Clark, mother of 15 year-old Samantha Reid who died as a result of an overdose after drinking a soda laced with GHB. Viewers will hear important facts on how to avoid unintentionally consuming GHB and other club drugs. They will also gain a new insight into the damage that this life-threatening drug causes to the body, as well as learn the symptoms of GHB overdose and the importance of swift medical attention. Teacher’s Resource Book includes a variety of student worksheets designed to continue your students’ exploration of this dangerous drug.
Includes:
video, plus teacher’s resource book, student handouts and in digital format
Reviews
GHB: The Facts, delves into the world of the GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) user. Widely known as a “club drug,” GHB is becoming more popular among teens because it is easier to get than alcohol, and provides a similar high. It is also known as the “date rape drug” because it is often undetectable when slipped into a drink. GHB was sold over the counter as a body-building supplement for many years, and is now a controlled substance used only for a very small percentage of medical problems.
The video and Teacher’s Resource Guide that make up this program, provide information from health care providers and personal testimonies from GHB abusers about the dangers of this drug. The insidiously addictive quality of GHB hits home with interviews of a parent who lost a son to GHB, and a recovered GHB addict. The program states it is more addictive than heroin, and withdrawal is so intense that suicide seems like the only relief.
For a high school to community college level audience, GHB: The Facts is an in-depth look at one drug. For a concise overview of club drugs, the HRM DVD program Club Drugs: The Real Deal is a better choice. Instructors should note that many of the same video clips are used in the HRM video programs on substance abuse: Club Drugs: The Real Deal, Everything You Need to Know about Substance Abuse in 22 Minutes, and The Truth about Hallucinogens. Recommended.
- Lori Widzinski, Health Sciences Library, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)