OUR VIEW: TCSO keeps dangerous drug off the streets
Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, January 15, 2020
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In Monday’s paper, we reported on a Troup County Sheriff’s Office arrest involving two women from Opelika who were found with about two gallons of GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate) in their vehicle on I-85 near West Point on Jan. 10.
GHB is commonly known as the “date rape drug.” The substance has no odor, tastes salty, but is undetectable by humans when mixed in a drink, so offenders use it to take advantage of a person.
According to TCSO Sgt. Stewart Smith, it only takes about one bottle cap full or 10 milliliters for the drug to influence somebody.
Comparatively, there are about 3,700 milliliters in one gallon.
Drugs.com says GHB victims become incapacitated due to the sedative effects of the drug, and they are unable to resist sexual assault. GHB may also induce amnesia.
Common user groups include high school and college students and rave party attendees who use GHB for its intoxicating effects.
Not only did TCSO take dangerous drugs off the street, but it also could have prevented thousands of people from being taken advantage of because of the drug.
According to a press release from TCSO, the incident started as a traffic stop for a window tint violation. During the course of the stop, the officer observed behavior consistent with criminal activity.
The sheriff’s office K9 Chapo was deployed for a “free-air sniff” around the vehicle and he indicated to the presence of narcotic odor coming from the car.
After searching for one of the perpetrator’s home, methamphetamine, LSD, marijuana, and additional GHB was also located.
We commend the officer and TCSO for adequately being able to identify suspicious behavior and put a stop to the drugs being distributed or used.