GHB (and GBL)
Overview
GHB is a depressant substance; it slows down the body’s reactions and functions in many different ways.
- unihibited
- mild euphoriant
- relaxed feeling
- aid sleep
- a supliment for body building
- loss of body control - effects similar to alcohol which can last for several hours
- feeling sick and being sick
- numb muscle and disorientation
- seizures and collapsed
- psycosis and severe agitation
- tachycardia
- delerium
- audio and visual hallucinations
- paranoia
There is a strong sexual component associated with the drug’s action, which is related to it being used as a ‘date rape’ drug.
GHB is a white crystalline powder. The powder is rarely sold on at street or club level. Instead the salt is mixed with water to produce a clear liquid - often sold in small platic bottles.
GHB can be easiliy manufactured from GBL which is typically sold in plastic bottles, sometimes labelled but often unmarked.
GHB and GBL is most commonly taken orally in liquid form; the powder is not commonly snorted, but dissolved in fluid.
Swallowed: small capful provides an ‘average’ dose. It can take up to an hour for the effects to be fully felt.
GBL is converted to GHB in the body, appears in the same liquid form and produces equivalent effects to GHB.