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Harm Reduction TO

GHB

Also known as:

G, liquid ecstasy, liquid x, grievous bodily harm, fantasy, date rape drug.

GHB -anaheimlighthouse-drug-use-at-raves-and-club-article-photo-drugs-dealer-at-spring-break-party-selling-molly-to-teenager.jpg

What is it?

GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is produced naturally in the human body in very small amounts (CAMH, 2019). It is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which can cause the user to feel sleepy, slowing down their breathing and heart rate.

How does it work?

GHB acts as a depressant on your central nervous system, and its effects on your cognition, respiratory system and motor functioning are similar to the effects of alcohol. It is a very potent sedative, which causes the user to feel very drowsy and tired (CAMH, 2019).

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What does it look like?

In its liquid form, GHB looks like water. It has no smell and is tasteless or has a slightly salty or solvent taste that can be easily masked. It is usually sold as a liquid in small vials and is also available as a white powder or capsule (CAMH, 2019).

Two industrial chemicals, GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and BD (1,4-butanediol) convert to GHB in the bloodstream. They are also consumed in liquid form, although they have a more bitter, and unpleasant taste than GHB (Dancesafe, n.d.).

Is there a safe dose?

When using illicit drugs under prohibition, there is no safe dose because you may not be certain about the contents or potency of the substance, and the risk of poisoning and overdose is high.

One of the major concerns with using GHB is that the difference in dosage between a safe or desired dose and a dose that could be fatal is a very small margin (CAMH, 2019). In powdered form, a normal recreational dose is between 1-3 grams, but the drug is most commonly available in a liquid form, and the concentration of the liquid can vary considerably depending on the source. It can be measured using the lid of a bottle cap and this could be considered a “single dose”.

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Effects      

The desired effects of GHB are similar to those of someone who would consume alcohol - lowered inhibitions, increased sociability, a feeling of relaxation, and an elevated mood. It was commonly used in the 1990s as a club drug for its intoxicating effects and enhancement of music/dance appreciation.

Effects include:

  • Lowering inhibitions

  • Feeling relaxed

  • Elevated mood

Side effects and cautions

There are many problems that have been associated with GHB, revolving around both its dangerously small dosage margin between a therapeutic dose and a lethal dose, and its combination with other psychoactive substances. It is easy to overdose on GHB, which can lead to a loss of consciousness, also known as slipping into a “GHB sleep”. People who have fallen into a GHB sleep may have trouble breathing - resulting in convulsions, vomiting while asleep (a choking hazard), lowered heart rate, and subsequent death. Combining GHB with other drugs is more likely to intensify the toxic effects of the drug, and more likely to lead to a fatal overdose (CAMH, 2019). 

Combining GHB with other drugs is more likely to intensify the toxic effects of the drug, and more likely to lead to a fatal overdose.

GHB is also notorious for its use in sexual assaults, because the liquid form of the drug is both odourless and tasteless, so the victim is unable to detect if someone has slipped it into their drink at a bar/club. Its sedating effects prevent the victim from resisting the perpetrator and also causes amnesia, such that the victim is unable to remember what happened.

Therapeutic Uses?

GHB stimulates human growth hormone, so it was used by bodybuilders in the 1980s and there are also claims that it enhances sexuality (CAMH, 2011). The only current medical use of GHB in Canada is as a treatment for the sleep disorder, narcolepsy.

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Harm Reduction Tips

  • Start low and go slow. If you plan to use GHB start with a very small dose and be careful not to consume too much.

  • Know your source. The concentration of GHB can vary substantially and it can be contaminated with other substances.

  • Do not mix GHB with other drugs. This can increase the risk of poisoning and overdose.

  • In particular, don’t mix GHB with alcohol, benzodiazepines, ketamine, opiates, or other CNS depressants. Mixing GHB with these drugs is extremely dangerous and can be fatal, even if taken hours apart.

  • Do not re-dose. If you do re-dose, wait at least two hours or until you no longer feel high. Many people have overdosed by not waiting long enough before taking more.

  • Accurately measure and be very careful with your dose. GHB is highly dose-sensitive, and even a slightly higher dose than normal can cause a loss of consciousness.

  • Shake your bottle of GHB before taking your dose. The drug can settle at the bottom of a vial, causing later doses to be stronger if it is not mixed.

  • Never use GHB alone. If you pass out, your airway can become blocked and you can suffocate.

  • Use with a trusted friend and have a plan of action to reduce risks related to sexual assault.

  • Don’t drive while using GHB. Avoid dangerous activities that require motor functioning.

  • Don’t store GHB in a bottle that could be confused with water. You can add food colouring to your GHB to help you and others easily identify it.

Legal Status: Use, Possession, & Distribution

It is illegal to possess, traffic, import or produce GHB in Canada. Access to pharmaceutical GHB is tightly regulated. GHB that is sold as a street drug is produced illegally using chemicals and processes that vary from lab to lab. The strength and purity of the final product also vary.

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References

CAMH. (2019). GHB. Retrieved from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/ghb

Dancesafe. (n.d.). What is GHB?. Retrieved from https://dancesafe.org/ghb/

Image Sources

GHB pill being handed to someone. (2018). Anaheim Lighthouse. Retrieved from https://anaheimlighthouse.com/blog/drug-use-at-raves-and-club/

Liquid GHB being poured into a drink. (2018). MaxPPP. Retrieved from https://plus.lesoir.be/152107/article/2018-04-19/le-ghb-de-drogue-du-violeur-substance-la-mode

GHB pills. (2016). PHYS.org. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bma7xm/ghb-date-rape-drug-clubs-nightlife-explainer

GHB powder. (2015). ALAMY. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11942081/Nine-things-you-should-know-about-GHB.html