New Zealand - News: Alcohol more harmful than GHB - new drug study (NZ)

[~lostgurl~]

Alcohol more harmful than Fantasy (GHB) - new drug study - NZ

7 November 2007
Radio New Zealand

A new study has rated alcohol more harmful than the class B1 drug Fantasy, which is also known as gamma hydroxybutric acid, or GHB.

Researchers from Otago University and the National Addiction Centre compared the two substances using the same criteria the Ministry of Health uses to classify drugs.

Lead researcher, Professor Doug Sellman, says the study shows that alcohol would be classed as a B1 drug if it was brought onto the market today.

He says the study also found that alcohol causes more serious long-term health problems and the risk of abuse is much higher than for Fantasy.

Professor Sellman believes banning Fantasy sends the wrong message when alcohol is sold in supermarkets.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest...new_drug_study

[Bajeda]

Have never heard it called Fantasy before. Is that a common name for it down under?

[Senor Gribson]

hasn't GHB always been considered a safer alternative to alcohol?

[~lostgurl~]

Originally Posted by Bajeda

Have never heard it called Fantasy before. Is that a common name for it down under?

Yup, the media usually refers to it as fantasy, underground it is more commonly referred to as drink, juice, rinse, mils or G

Originally Posted by Senor Gribson

hasn't GHB always been considered a safer alternative to alcohol?

Well yes, but for the media to publish anything stating illegal drugs are safer than legal ones is either a freak occurrence or a major breakthrough. The fact that they actually did a study to prove it is even more surprising. Will this fade into the background unnoticed or will a new drugs debate take the spotlight?