Substance Abuse

Destroying Lives: The Dangers of GHB

Destroying Lives: The Dangers of GHB

“(GHB) is the most addictive drug I’ve ever seen. People are desperate to get off of it because it’s destroying their lives.”

~ Dr. Stephen W. Smith

Some people say obtaining GHB is as easy as “ordering a pizza”. And although it’s highly illegal, the drug is sold openly on the Internet online, often falsely labeled as “fish tank cleaner”, “stain remover”, or some other harmless-sounding product.

The National Institutes of Drug Abuse considers GHB a club drug or a “party drug” because there is a growing core of abusers who use it as part of the rave culture. It is more common for GHB to be used as a club drug than as other illicit drugs. However, it can still be used by some individuals like an illicit drug.

Club/Party drugs are abused by people, especially young adults, who frequently attend parties, nightclubs, discos, and raves. They produce stimulant, aphrodisiacal, and hallucinogenic effects that enhance the club experience.

GHB – What You Need to Know about this “Social” Drug

“Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid”, or GHB, has a legitimate medical use as a treatment for narcolepsy. This is part of the reason why it is so popular among partygoers, because in small recreational doses, it is a stimulant that allows users to stay awake, party longer, and drink more. It is also extremely common amongst young adults in college as it helps them stay awake and be more alert which helps which studying.

Unfortunately, because of these euphoric effects, it is extremely easy to overdose on GHB as people seek to keep the “high” feeling.

Reported effects of GHB include:

  • A euphoric high
  • Greater sociability
  • Increased affection
  • Enhanced sexual pleasure
  • Deepened music appreciation

These effects of GHB are reported to occur when it is consumed in low doses. When GHB is consumed in higher doses, it has the opposite effect as it acts as a central nervous system depressant.

When acting as a central nervous system depressant, the effects of GHB include:

  • Feelings of extreme fatigue or sleepiness
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Slower heart rate and breathing

The effects of GHB are felt in less than 30 minutes, and last up to 6 hours. While pills can cost $25 apiece, single swigs of the liquid can be purchased for as little as $5.

GHB—Street Names

The most-frequently-heard names for GHB or “Liquid Ecstasy” or “Liquid X”, but other names include:

  • Goop
  • Lollipop
  • Easy Lay
  • Georgia Home Boy
  • Grievous Bodily Harm
  • Date Rape Drug

GHB and Date Rape

GHB is sometimes referred to as the date rape drug because it is usually sold as a colorless, odorless and nearly tasteless liquid that can be mixed with soft drinks or cocktails. This is very frequently without the recipient’s knowledge and in large doses which leads to:

  • Extreme suggestibility, passivity, and compliance
  • Amnesia
  • Increased sexual arousal

This dangerous combination leaves victims vulnerable to sexual assault or violence. Thus, it commonly referred to as the date rape drug.

Hazards and Negative Side Effects of GHB

GHB has negative side effects ranging from merely unpleasant to life threatening and even deadly. Some of the negative side effects of GHB include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Incontinence
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Severe headache
  • Profuse sweating
  • Uncontrollable tremors
  • Unintelligible or slurred speech
  • Respiratory depression
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness - caused by depression of the central nervous system
  • Organ damage, especially to the liver and kidneys
  • Coma
  • Death

It is extremely important that addicts get help for any side effects of GHB they experience. Failure to seek proper treatment from a health care provider can cause life threatening problems or even prove to be fatal.

Being "Homemade" Makes it Easy to Accidently Overdose on GHB

GHB is often “homemade” in illicit, unsafe makeshift labs. These crude batches can vary wildly in terms of purity, potency, and even formulation. This can often cause people to accidently overdose on GHB as they do not know exactly what they are consuming and in what quantities.

Some GHB “recipes” use dangerous chemicals such as drain cleaner or floor stripper. Exposure to these dangerous chemicals, especially if they are consumed or ingested, can cause serious, life threatening problems. In fact, in recent years, it has been linked to multiple deaths in Orange County.

How Addictive is GHB?

The addictive quality of drugs can be measured by the severity of withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can be both physical and psychological and are usually extremely unpleasant:

  • Extreme agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Profuse perspiration
  • Accelerated heartbeat
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Hallucinations
  • Psychosis
  • Delirium

The painful symptoms of GHB withdrawal make it unlikely that an addict will be able to stop using completely on their own. Professional help is nearly always needed—intervention, detox, medication, and ongoing treatment that includes access to quality health care professionals who provide physical and mental health care as well as a structured addiction treatment program.

Access to quality health care can help with the physical symptoms of withdrawal, while accessing mental health treatment can help with the psychological effects of GHB and even help people find long term sobriety.

If you live in Southern California and you want to stop using GHB and other club drugs, Chapman House Treatment Centers is the resource you need for help with addiction treatment. Since 1978, Chapman house has been one of the most-trusted drug rehabs in Orange County, and our addiction treatment program can help you successfully and safely regain your sobriety in the long term.

If you are ready to get help NOW, contact Chapman House TODAY.


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