What is the false positive risk associated with GHB detection?

Prepare for the Behavioral Health End of Rotation Exam with comprehensive study materials. Enhance your understanding with detailed questions, insights, and explanations. Gear up to excel!

GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyrate, is a compound that acts as a central nervous system depressant and is often misused for its psychoactive effects. It is also utilized medically, primarily in the treatment of narcolepsy and as an anesthetic. When discussing false positives in drug testing for GHB, it is important to consider the substances that might interfere with accurate detection.

The option indicating that GHB is an endogenous neurotransmitter is correct. GHB is indeed a naturally occurring substance in the human body, produced during metabolic processes. This inherent presence means that tests designed to detect GHB can yield positive results even when the substance has not been administered externally, leading to potential false positives.

In contrast, the other options—marijuana metabolites, oxazepam, and codeine—are all distinct substances that do not share metabolic pathways with GHB in the body. As a result, the detection of these drugs does not relate to false positives for GHB. Understanding the biochemical nature of GHB as an endogenous neurotransmitter is crucial to recognizing the false positive risk in testing scenarios.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy