An ETSU graduate student was arrested Wednesday in connection to the manufacturing of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (G.H.B.), also known as “the Date Rape Drug,” according to Kenneth Phillips, director of the First Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Louis Valentine, 28, 902 Ashley Road, Apt. 152, was charged with one count of manufacturing schedule I narcotics, after receiving two packages from the postal service containing Gamma Butyrolactone, which is a precursor to G.H.B.
The arrest comes after a month-long investigation involving the Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspectors, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Johnson City Police Bureau.
“This investigation was actually started by the postal service,” Phillips said.
Valentine’s name came up during a general investigation into the online company he was buying from.
After Valentine received a delivery of the packages, agents moved in with a search warrant. They found other components inside the residence used in manufacturing G.H.B.
Valentine, who is majoring in communicative disorders, has only been a resident of Tennessee and student of ETSU for one month. He had previously lived in Kansas. According to Phillips, this was a one-man operation.
G.H.B is used as the date rape drug because when given, it incapacitates the person it is given to. After ingesting the drug, the victim is much easier to take advantage of.
The drug can also cause amnesia. Hence, the victim might not even remember being sexually assaulted.
“To me, that’s a cowardly way to take advantage of someone, which is a cowardly act in itself,” said Patrick Dunkin, ETSU student. “I think that anyone who would use a drug like that should be given a mandatory prison sentence or be counseled at least because they have some major issues that need to be worked out.”
Phillips said that some people will even take the drug themselves.
The drug can create a buzz for the person taking it. It is also possible that if too much is taken, the person can pass out.
Phillips said that the drug is odorless and tasteless, so students should not accept any drinks unless they know the person well.
He also said that if a person thinks that they might have been given something, they need to be checked out immediately.
G.H.B. is not a commonly found drug in this area, according to Phillips.
“It’s not something that’s very prevalent around here,” he said, “We don’t run into it very often.”
According to Phillips, there are not any active rape cases which are connected to the use of G.H.B.
“It’s scary to think that a guy would go through so much trouble to get what he wants from a girl,” said Amanda Vance, ETSU student.

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