What it is
Gammahydroxybutyrate or sodium oxybate is a man-made drug which usually comes as a colourless, odourless liquid with a slightly salty taste. In the past it has been used medically to promote sleep before surgery and to treat insomnia and narcolepsy (falling asleep), in child birth and for alcoholism and heroin addiction. It is usually sold in small glass or plastic bottles which often display warnings about not taking it with alcohol. It is also available in powder form and occasionally as capsules.
Street names
Names include fantasy, g-juice, gamma-0, GHB, liquid E and liquid X.
How it is taken
The liquid form is drunk from the bottle. The powder form is often dissolved in water, fruit juice or milk before drinking. There have been occasional reports of it being injected.
Extent of use
The bottles are available from sex and 'head' shops, by mail order and from some pubs and clubs. There have been few surveys about how widely it has been used but it is clear that use has increased over the last few years, especially in clubs. In a 2000 survey of clubbers over a quarter claimed to have used it at least once. Most users will be over 16 and will use on an occasional, rather than regular, basis.
Effects of use
- It is a downer (depressant) and slows down the body and reactions.
- Effects usually begin within 10 to 60 minutes and last for one to two hours for a small to medium dose but longer for a large dose.
- A small dose (such as one capful) feels a bit like having a few alcoholic drinks. People tend to relax, feel confident, talk a lot and often feel sexually turned on.
- With larger doses the downer effects take over. Lack of co-ordination, sleepiness and muscle stiffness are common. Some users get confused, feel sick and vomit.
- Huge doses can lead to convulsions, loss of consciousness and coma.
Risks of use
- Lack of co-ordination and the slowing-down effects increase the risks of falling over and having accidents.
- It often heightens sexual feelings and may make it difficult to stay in control and practice safer sex.
- GHB is thought to be behind a number of 'date rapes' where it has been slipped into people's alcoholic drinks.
- The strength of GHB can vary from bottle to bottle so it can be difficult to know exactly how strong a dose is being taken.
- Some is badly made and can result in caustic soda burning the mouth.
- Large doses send people into deep sleep. It can be difficult to wake people up and if they are sick while asleep they can choke on their vomit.
- Some people have been rushed to hospital after taking GHB. Most have recovered but there have been a few deaths, especially where users have also drunk alcohol. Combining GHB use with alcohol or other downer drugs (such as heroin, methadone or tranquillisers) is particularly dangerous.
- Not a lot is known about the risks of long-term, regular use of GHB. However, some people have suggested that dependence can result form regular use.
The Law
GHB is not currently controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Possession is not an offence. It is controlled as a medicine under the Medicines Act and unauthorised supply is an offence. The government is currently considering making GHB a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
