GHB

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What is GHB?

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) is an illegal drug commonly found around the dance and party scene. It’s known as a ‘date rape’ drug, because it is hard to detect if it is slipped into a drink at a party.

GHB was originally developed to be used as an anaesthetic. It is a central nervous system depressant. This means that it slows down brain activity and produces feelings of relaxation and drowsiness.

GHB usually comes as liquid. It can be bitter or salty tasting and is odourless or has a slight odour. It can also come as a powder or in crystal form.

GHB typically doesn’t have any colour but it can make a transparent drink cloudy. Sometimes, it can be coloured bright blue.

It can be:

swallowed
injected
inserted anally (into your back passage)

GHB is also known as:

G
Gina
GBH (grievous bodily harm)
fantasy
gamma G
blue nitro
liquid E
liquid X
Georgia Home Boy
soap
scoop
cherry meth
fishies

GHB is sometimes called liquid ecstasy due to its effects. It’s not chemically related to the drug ecstasy (MDMA).

What are the effects of taking GHB?

The effects of GHB start after about 5 to 20 minutes. They can last from a few minutes to a few hours. People who take GHB may:

slur their speech
feel confident, excited or upset
have a heightened sense of touch
have a higher sex drive

People who use GHB can also have unwanted effects, such as:

disorientation
loss of coordination
dizziness
forgetfulness
nausea and vomiting
headaches
shakes and shivers
diarrhoea
urinary incontinence
blackouts
seizures
confusion
hallucinations

These effects can last for up to 4 hours and may appear earlier if GHB is taken with alcohol.

GHB can affect people differently based on:

how much they take
how strong it is
their height and weight
their general health
their mood
their previous experiences with GHB
whether they take other drugs at the same time

What can go wrong with GHB?

GHB is linked to date rape and sexual assaults as it can be used to spike drinks. It is hard to detect, particularly in opaque and strong-tasting drinks. GHB also leaves the person who took it unable to remember much of what happened while they were affected.

It’s very easy to overdose on GHB, especially if taken with alcohol. Even small amounts can cause some people to overdose.

Signs someone has overdosed on GHB are:

they cannot be woken up
they are incoherent
they are hallucinating
they are sweating
they are vomiting
they can’t stand up
their heartbeat is slow and irregular
their breathing is slow or irregular
they have blackouts or memory loss

An overdose can cause:

seizures
a stroke
a cardiac arrest (where your heart stops beating — this is a medical emergency)

Can GHB cause long-term problems?

Using GHB long term can cause:

memory problems
heart disease
hallucinations
anxiety
breathing problems

What if I use other drugs or alcohol together with GHB?

It is dangerous to take GHB along with other things that slow the central nervous system, such as:

alcohol
some prescription medicines

The risk of overdose is increased if you take GHB with alcohol.

Using GHB with amphetamines increases your risk of a seizure.

Can I become dependent on GHB?

Regular users of GHB can develop a tolerance to the drug very quickly. This means they need more of the drug to get the same effects.

It’s also possible to become addicted to GHB. This is when you spend a lot of time thinking about the drug and trying to get it. This can impact your:

life
work
relationships

People can also become dependent on GHB. They may find it difficult to stop using GHB or control how much they use. This is often due to withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur in people who have used GHB for a long time. Symptoms start about 6 to 72 hours after the last dose, and often last for 5 to 15 days. They include: