Governor John Engler has declared the month of March, 2002 as "GHB Awareness Month" in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Women's Commission, Michigan State Police and the Samantha Reid Foundation have been working together to increase awareness and prevention of this dangerous drug. During GHB awareness month, these partner agencies will use a power point presentation to work with high schools throughout the state to educate students on the dangers of rave parties, GHB and Ecstacy use.

"Michigan has been a leader on increasing awareness and preventing the use of GHB," said Engler. "Legislation that placed GHB on the list of schedule one narcotics, innovative media campaigns aimed at both children and parents, working with college students and now efforts to educate high school students, have all played important roles in our efforts to end GHB use in Michigan."

"A single dose of GHB can be fatal," said Judi Clark, Chair of the Samantha Reid Foundation. Clark is the mother of Samantha Reid, the 15-year-old Rockwood girl who died after the odorless and colorless GHB was slipped into her soda at a party. "I lost my daughter to GHB that had been slipped into her Mountain Dew and unknowingly ingested by her. It is colorless, odorless, and often children are lied to and told it is a safe alternative to alcohol. Parents and teachers must continue to teach our young people about the dangers of GHB"

"Women must learn how to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of a GHB crime," said Anne Norlander, Chairwoman of the Michigan Women's Commission. "Women should never accept drinks from strangers and should not leaving their drinks unattended. By educating people with the power point presentations, we hope to empower students and women to make safe decisions in order to not become a victim of a GHB related crime."

"GHB is one of the most dangerous club drugs," said Jim McBryde, Special Assistant for Drug Policy at the Michigan Department of Community Health. "It is highly addictive, its strength varies widely from batch to batch and a single overdose can be fatal. Raising awareness of the dangers of GHB is crucial for students, women and communities in order to save lives."

The Department of Community Health will continue to air a radio commercial recorded by Judi Clark talking about the dangers of GHB throughout the state and will continue to distribute brochure information about GHB to colleges, high schools and middle schools statewide.

GHB can be slipped into an unsuspecting woman's drink, rendering her defenseless to her attacker. Ingesting the drug can result in unconsciousness, vomiting, seizures, coma and even death.