IGNORING THE DANGERS OF GHB CAN RESULT IN DEATH

GHB Information is a site dedicated to raising public awareness on the dangers of the drug, whilst presenting the facts with clarity. We are here to help educate both those who are interested in learning the facts about the substance and those whose lives are affected by it; with a view to helping addicts and their families seek appropriate rehab or detox programs. These programs are applicable to any type of drug and are highly recommended. You will encounter a variety of different ones listed throughout the site.

History of the drug

GHB or Gamma Hydroxybutyrate is a naturally occurring compound that is found in trace amounts throughout the human body. It is a similar compound to the neurotransmitter GABA and triggers a variety of effects in the brain by temporarily increasing the brain’s supply of both GABA and dopamine. It was first synthesized in France in the early sixties and was looked at as a possible anesthetic, but was shelved due to the nature of its ‘undesirable side effects’. In 1987 the drug was resurrected as a possible treatment for sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and catalepsy. During this period of research, it was noticed that sleeping mammals released substantial quantities of growth hormone whilst under the influence of the drug. It was only a matter of time before the body-building community got wind of this ‘wonder drug’. It was heralded as the safe alternative to anabolic steroids; but this couldn’t have been further from the truth. Unfortunately, many body-builders began to show signs of addiction and several were hospitalized due to overdoses. The American Food and Drug Administration speedily whipped the drug off the shop floors in November 1990. This of course does nothing to stop people easily synthesizing the drug from its readily available chemical precursors. Also, variants of GHB can still be bought online, in health food stores and in sex shops.

Appearance

GHB is most commonly found in the form of a salt (Na-GHB or K-GHB) and is usually ingested orally as an odorless, colorless, and nearly tasteless liquid. Occasionally the substance is available as a powder, or in a capsule.

Chemistry

NAME:

Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate

CHEMICAL NAME:

4-Hydroxybutanoic acid

ALTERNATE CHEMICAL NAMES:

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; 4-hydroxybutyrate; GHB

CHEMICAL FORMULA:

C 4 H 8 O 3

MOLECULAR WEIGHT:

104.11

Synthesis

As a former amateur ‘manufacturer’ and abuser of GHB it would obviously be immoral to go in to the specific details of how one synthesizes the drug. But I feel that it is necessary to describe the basic processes, so that concerned parties may identify the evidence of drug manufacture before it is too late.

Firstly, there are the precursor chemicals. These are legal, readily available and can be found from a number ‘high street’ sources. The most common is a specific type of nail-varnish remover. It is worth mentioning, for the benefit of concerned parents or friends, that if a male is found to have supplies of nail-varnish remover lying around, you will have good reason to suspect that GHB is being manufactured. The second chemical required for the manufacture of GHB is Sodium Hydroxide, more commonly known as caustic soda or lye. This is a household chemical that is supposed to be used for unblocking plugholes and drains. It is highly alkaline, and handling it is the most dangerous part of the manufacturing process because it can result in excruciating chemical burns.

Mixing of the chemicals has to be done in a strong glass or ceramic vessel because the reaction is endothermic; meaning that it gives off a considerable amount of heat.

The diluted final solution is siphoned off into a bottle for storage.

It is hoped that, without giving unhelpful specifics, the above information may serve as a guide to the sort of things which concerned family or friends should be alert to.

Effects

This is only an approximation of the effects of GHB relative to dosage. This of course varies between users’ metabolism and tolerance to the drug. It is not intended as a guide for the would be user, but as a guide for concerned parties who may be wishing to identify and confirm behavioral traits in a suspected user.

Low Dose

A low dose of GHB (usually from 0.5 to 1.5 grams) often causes effects similar to those of 1-3 drinks of alcohol. Users can feel a mild relaxation, increased sociability, slightly decreased motor skills, sometimes mild dizziness, and other effects similar to mild alcohol intoxication. Even at low doses, it is improper and dangerous for GHB users to drive or operate heavy machinery.

Medium Dose

A medium dose of GHB (usually from 1 to 2.5 grams) increases the relaxing effects and the physical inbalance experienced. Some people report an increased appreciation for music, dancing, or talking. Many people report positive mood changes. Some slurring of speech, silliness, repetitiveness and slight incoherency are also common. Others report increased feelings of nausea and grogginess. Some users of GHB report pro-sexual effects.

Heavy Dose

A heavy dose of GHB (from 2.5 + grams) can increase feelings of inbalance in many people to the point of feeling quite ill. Many people accidentally move from medium dose to over dose, only passing through heavy dose for a few minutes. One reason that GHB has gained notoriety as a club drug is that some people experience extremely positive feelings on heavy doses of GHB. Reports of euphoria, feeling music deeply, joyous dancing, and other very positive effects are common among aficionados. People who report these effects also describe how difficult finding one’s personal dose range can be to achieve these effects. An extra quarter (.25) gram can be the difference between euphoria and illness and vomiting.

Overdose

The overdose range for GHB can be as little as 2 grams, based on body weight and individual sensitivity. One major problem with GHB as an underground recreational substance is that it has a sharp dose-response curve, which can be difficult to manage with the various non-standard preparations available to the uninformed buyer. Another major problem is that uninformed users often mix GHB with alcohol, which drastically increases the chance of vomiting and unconsciousness. An overdose can consist of mild to extreme nausea and dizziness, and vomiting. It can also be characterized by a strong drowsy feeling followed by a temporarily unwakeable sleep (sometimes characterized as a type of coma) for 1-4 hours. Some overdoses of GHB mix vomiting with unconsciousness and loss of gag reflex which is of course an extremely dangerous situation.

Poisoning

While many overdoses consist mainly of heavy sleep, some are life-threatening. GHB poisonings are characterized by very low breathing, convulsions or twitching, vomiting, complete non-responsive even to ‘deep pain’, fixed pupils, etc. GHB poisoning victims should receive medical care immediately.

After Effects

Some people feel drowsy, sleepy, or groggy after the effects wear off or the next day after ingestion. The hangover from low and medium doses of GHB is usually mild or non existent, although some people report feeling slightly ‘fuzzy headed’ the next day. For some people, using GHB more than once a week causes significantly increased negative after effects.