en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Hydroxybutyric_acid#Neurotoxicity
1 correction found
In New Zealand and Australia, GHB, 1,4-B, and GBL are all Class B illegal drugs
This is wrong for Australia. Australian law does not classify these substances as "Class B" drugs: GHB is in Schedule 9 of the Poisons Standard, GBL was left unscheduled under that standard, and 1,4-butanediol became a border controlled drug in 2024.
Full reasoning
This sentence incorrectly applies New Zealand’s Class B terminology to Australia.
In Australia, the federal Poisons Standard uses Schedules, not drug "classes." The current Poisons Standard lists "4-HYDROXYBUTANOIC ACID and its salts except for sodium oxybate when in Schedule 8" under Schedule 9, which is the entry covering GHB.
The article is also wrong to say that GBL is one of these Australian "Class B" drugs. In the TGA's published scheduling history for sodium oxybate/GHB, Australia states that when gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) was reviewed in 2002, "GBL remained unscheduled."
And 1,4-butanediol (1,4-B) is not an Australian "Class B" drug either. The Australian Federal Police states that from March 2024, 1,4-butanediol was defined as a border controlled drug. That is a different legal category from the one claimed in the article.
So while New Zealand uses a Class B framework, the statement is false as written because it says the same is true in Australia.
3 sources
- Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2024) Instrument 2024
The current Poisons Standard includes: "4-HYDROXYBUTANOIC ACID and its salts except for sodium oxybate when in Schedule 8. *(GAMMA HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB))."
- Publication of revised final decisions amending, or not amending, the current Poisons Standard, September 2018
The TGA scheduling history states: "In June 2002, the NDPSC considered gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) as a possible derivate of GHB ... Therefore, GBL remained unscheduled."
- Illegal importers of 'date rape' drug warned of serious consequences | Australian Federal Police
"From March 2024, bute [1,4 Butanediol] was defined as a border controlled drug (Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No.2) Act 2023)."