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f ~ The lack of danger and minimal addictive risks of GHB are graphically illustrated by the FDA-approved protocols for dispensing GHB in narcolepsy studies. After preliminary laboratory-monitored sleep studies (one or two nights to obtain a baseline), the test subjects are given large containers of GHB, told what dose range to take (6-8 grams per night), and instructed to come back for more GHB when they need it. The protocol also instructs the subjects go to bed immediately after taking the GHB, and remain in bed for 6-8 hours until morning. However, considering the number of elderly subjects in the studies, with their known propensity to visit the bathroom several times each night, it is doubtful that these instructions are rigidly followed. Were there any adverse effects? Iu oue of the multi-year studies, which employed nearly 75 people, it appeared that there was about a 20% incidence of bed-wetting-the most disturbing side effect. However, when the data were analyzed, it was found that all the bed-wetting was experienced by one 84year-old patient, who said that he'd rather continue to wet the bed and get a good night's sleep than stop taking GHB! Other side effects that were occasionally reported included sleep-walking and various minor incidences of nausea and vomiting (which were dose- related, and usually resolved with continued use). Included in these INDs were reports of many people taking as much as 30 grams of GHB per day for several months without ill effects. This is hardly a picture of danger and addiction. This is hardly "irrelevant" to court cases in which government expert witnesses are testifying about GHB's toxicities, dangers and addictive properties. And this is hardly a situation requiring criminalization. This is a crisis manufactured by the FDA, aided and abetted by the DEA, compounded by local police, inflamed by the media, and perpetuated by ignorance. We do not need to have "GAB madness" become a permanent part of our culture as law. We do not need to disenfranchise patients, impair the practice of medicine, and drive citizens to obtain their food supplements in the drug underground. Bins: Dr. Ward Dean is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a recently retired Navy Commander, and the former flight surgeon for the anti-terrorist Delta Force. He is currently the Medical Director of the Center for Bio-Gerontology in Pensacola, Florida. Steven Fowkes is currently the Executive Director of the Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute in Menlo Park, California. He is an organic chemist.