THE unusual case of a Horwich man found not guilty of pulling out 18 of his girlfriend's teeth while hallucinating on a designer drug has highlighted the dangers of GHB.

David Crookes looks at the relatively unknown drug.

THE drug GHB, Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate, may not be as well known as the likes of heroin or cocaine, but it has already claimed its victims in Bolton.

Jason Morris, aged 30, of Nasmyth Street, Horwich, was found not guilty last month after standing trial for removing 18 of his girlfriend Samantha Courts' teeth with household pliers.

They had both become addicted to the clear liquid drug and 25-year-old Miss Courts said she had pulled them out herself. She now has to wear two sets of dentures.

In October 1997, Andrea Murphy, aged 25, was found dead in her home in Wigan after taking GHB on a night out. Her father Patrick, of Dunchurch Close, Lostock, called for the Government to follow America and ban the drug.

In January 1998, seven people collapsed in Bolton town centre. Two suffered heart attacks and another two stopped breathing. The incident led to police handing out leaflets informing young people about the dangers of GHB.

Then in July last year, three men collapsed outside a pub in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, after overdosing on the drug.

At the moment GHB is not illegal to possess, consume or distribute, if you have a licence. The Government is contemplating making it a classified C drug.

Miss Courts thinks this is an irresponsible move. The couple began taking a small capful a week in a shot glass with cola, but soon began spending £20 a day on the drug.

She says: "I really think it should be made a Class A drug, like heroin, not just because of the effects, but because it is addictive.

"We didn't know it was addictive. We just started taking a bit at weekends, before nights out or at parties.

"People must be aware that one cap a week can become one cap every day and then one cap an hour."

She adds: "It is evil. A nurse in hospital said the withdrawals were as bad as those suffered by heroin addicts.

"The Government is thinking of classifying it as C, but I think it should be Class A, the same as heroin."

GHB is used as a muscle builder, a "party drug" and as a "date-rape" drug and comes in liquid and powder form.

The drug can cause many problems including drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, changes in blood pressure, breathing trouble, aggressive behaviour, impaired judgement, hallucinations, seizures, coma and even death.

It is often used as a date-rape drug because it has no colour or smell and can be easily slipped into drinks and food. A very small amount of GHB can cause the person to become unconscious.

A major problem is that the drug is widely available. Many people buy it in sex shops or through the Internet, where recipes to make DIY versions appear.

The components which form GHB can be easily purchased from a range of seemingly innocuous on-line shops.

That is because the ingredients -- gamma, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide -- are often sold as innocent products such as nail enamel removers which can be picked up by consumers without raising suspicion.

One website in America lists places to buy the ingredients.

It has raised questions over how the Internet can be properly policed. Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon says: "Controlling the Internet is a difficult situation to address because by its nature it's worldwide and so incredibly vast.

"As a scientist I know how easy it is to make GHB. It's a standard compound which any Chemistry A-level student or someone with a well put-together recipe can produce.

"Most of the illegal or designer drugs are listed on the Internet with instructions on how to make them all posted on websites. It's a far from ideal situation and, like pornography on the Internet, something that needs to be debated."

The most powerful warning against using GHB comes from Mr Morris and Miss Courts.

Mr Morris says: "My life was in the hands of the jury. It was very worrying. We will never take it again. It is very addictive -- you can't explain how good it makes you feel.

" But it should be banned."

Miss Courts adds: "We've made a mistake and we paid for it. We are just glad people can see this is a very addictive drug."