GBL, like GHB, is a clear and odorless liquid. It only takes a teaspoon to make users feel happy, sensual and uninhibited all day. However, officials warn that when taken excessively or when mixed with alcohol or other drugs, GBL can cause a potentially fatal seizure.

"The difference between life and death with this substance is the blink of an eye," said David Hingston, a criminal lawyer. "It really is frightening stuff. It is impossible to say what a safe dosage is. The drug gets worse if mixed with other drugs, and the kind of people taking this ... are very likely to have had other drugs."

Hingston is concerned that dealers are misleading users by calling GBL "liquid ecstasy."

"Ecstasy is very common, and the public at large don't accept it as being dangerous, so when they are given this 'liquid ecstasy' they think they will be able to handle it," he said. "A very large percentage of the young public take ecstasy and if they think this is the same, there is a danger that it could lead to a tragedy."

Graham Rhodes of the Roofie Foundation, a specialist agency dealing with drug rape, said GBL is being linked to a growing number of date rapes. "We have only heard about this recently. Although we have not come directly across it yet, we know it is around and we are very alarmed," said Rhodes. "GBL is a derivative of GHB and is beginning to do the rounds. GHB only becomes a date-rape drug with the addition of alcohol, and we are worried that this GBL will be same."

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