The
purpose of this information sheet is to provide the public and health care professionals
with accurate information about GHB and its use.
What is GHB?
GHB
was first synthesized in 1960 and was developed for use as a hypnotic agent. It was
discarded because of its inability to reliably induce a sleep deep enough for surgery.
Its use was also associated with several serious side effects, including seizures.
It
is commonly referred to on the streets as Liquid X, Liquid E, GBH or Grievous Bodily
Harm and Easy Lay.
GHB
is a clear, odourless and tasteless liquid. Because of these characteristics and
the fact that its sedative and hypnotic effects are increased by alcohol, GHB has
been used in the context of "date rape" where the drug is poured into the
drink of an unsuspecting person.
GHB
is produced naturally in the body and is structurally similar to gamma amino butyric
acid (GABA). Its function in the body is unknown. It was sold in health food stores
in the U.S. until 1989, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classified it
as a controlled substance. Recently though, there appears to have been a resurgence
in the use of GHB as clandestine laboratories have sprung up to manufacture the drug
using recipes widely available on the internet.
GHB
is listed as a controlled substance under Section 3 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act in Canada, and is prohibited for sale in this country. The drug is a Schedule
I Controlled Substance in the U.S. making it illegal to possess with the intent to
manufacture, distribute or dispense.
What are the effects?
Administration
of GHB causes central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects (e.g. sedation) as
well as euphoric effects. It has been investigated clinically for the treatment of
alcohol withdrawal and for sleep disorders.
It
is used illicitly for its sedative and euphoric effects. It is also claimed to promote
muscle development. Adverse effects associated with GHB include dizziness, nausea
and vomiting, amnesia, seizures, hallucination, difficulty with breathing, unconsciousness
and coma. It has increasingly surfaced as a drug at "raves", nightclubs
and bars.
False
claims have been made about GHB. It has been promoted illegally as a health food
product, a hypnotic, an aphrodisiac and, for body builders, as a steroid alternative.
Its sedating effects are claimed to buffer aggressiveness, a common side effect in
anabolic steroid users. Its effects on sleep are due to its ability to facilitate
slow wave sleep, while decreasing sleep stages 1 and 2. Growth hormone is released
during slow wave sleep; by promoting slow wave sleep, it has been purported that
increased growth hormone release occurs, leading to muscle building effects. The
efficacy of GHB in promoting muscle development has not been demonstrated.
Most
of the GHB on the street is in liquid form, prepared in home laboratories. The strength
of this homemade GHB can vary considerably so users don't know how much they are
getting. What is thought to be a small dose, could actually turn out to be a toxic
dose. Since the actual amounts of GHB consumed are unknown (due to the variability
in product concentration) the risk of overdose is great. This risk increases when
the user combines GHB with other psychoactive drugs such as benzodiazepines and /
or alcohol. Cases of intoxication require emergency hospital treatment. It
is often difficult to distinguish alcohol intoxication from GHB intoxication. GHB
intoxication can occur rapidly and if one is aware that a friend has taken the drug,
one should monitor the friend for increased drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, headache,
impaired breathing, seizures or loss of consciousness.
Following
oral administration, GHB is quickly absorbed; peak concentrations are reached in
20-60 minutes and the effects generally last up to 4 hours depending on the amount
taken. Most of the acute symptoms resolve after about seven hours, but dizziness
has been known to persist for up to two weeks.
Within
15-30 minutes following ingestion, the following effects can occur depending on the
amount ingested: drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, amnnesia and vertigo. This may be
followed by loss of consciousness, coma, depressed respiration, tonic-clonic seizures
and / or hypotension. Respiratory arrest has also been reported.
Recent
information from participants at raves and emergency visits to hospitals includes
reports that GHB overdoses are becoming more prevalent.
There
have been some reports of GHB-related deaths in the United States confirmed by the
Drug Enforcement Agency.
For
more information on mental health or addiction issues, please call the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health at 1-800-463-6273, or in Toronto at (416) 595-6111.
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1-800-463-6273
