Implications of Research for Treatment: Ghb by Jane C. Maxwell, Ph.d. Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center the Center for Excellence in Drug Epidemiology U. T. Center for Social Work Research

In Australia, a study of 76 GHB users found they were stable, well-functioning, and highly educated. Some 29% typically drank more than five alcoholic drinks when using GHB and they had extensive experience with a range of other drugs which they used with GHB. But even though these users did not have a long or extensive experience with GHB, 99% reported at least one negative side effect. Of those who had used GHB more than 15 times, 75% had overdosed at least once and a third had overdosed more than three times; 52% reported becoming unconscious. The high rate of problems reported by a group with limited use of this drug suggests that in a context of polydrug use, GHB is associated with significant risks to users [8, 9]. Likewise, use of GHB and a depressant drug can result in greater CNS depressant effects than seen with either drug alone [1].