Laws Toughened for ‘Date-Rape’ Drug

President Clinton signed legislation Friday that toughens federal laws for possession and distribution of a powerful “date rape” drug.

GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyrate, has been linked to at least 58 deaths since 1990 and more than 5,700 recorded overdoses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

A few drops of the colorless, odorless drug are usually slipped into a drink. A victim can lose consciousness within 20 minutes and often have no memory of what happened. The drug is difficult to trace.

Under the legislation, GHB would be placed in a category of drugs that are the most strictly regulated by the federal Controlled Substances Act. Anyone who possesses, manufactures or distributes GHB could face 20 years in prison.