GHB and GBL: What are they?

GHB/GBL: What is it?

Gammahydroxybutyric acid, better known as GHB , is a synthetic drug initially used in medicine to treat narcolepsy. It is also effective as a preoperative anesthetic. Known for its sedative and amnesic properties, GHB appeared outside the medical community about twenty years ago. It is also known as the " date rape drug ".

You hear about it regularly in the news, and it is a worrying phenomenon. It is mainly women who are poisoned with GHB or Ketamine, called date rape drugs. The result is similar to falling asleep completely, especially if GHB is mixed with alcohol. It is odorless and its taste is masked by the drink. The next day, the victims have forgotten everything about their evening and their night. They find themselves victims of sexual abuse and often have their personal belongings stolen.

GHB can be detected in the blood in some specialized analysis laboratories. It is present for less than 12 hours in urine and a few hours in blood. It is particularly difficult to detect because it disappears quickly from the body.

GHB – also known as the "date rape drug" – poses problems for emergency medical services because it is very difficult to detect. In the event of poisoning, medical personnel have only a few hours to make a diagnosis.
In the blood, the molecule's lifespan is about six to eight hours and in the urine a little longer: the psychotropic drug can be found up to twelve hours after ingestion. After this time, it is impossible to detect the slightest trace of GBL or GHB.

A real problem, especially when victims do not immediately realize that they have been drugged, or when emergency services are slow to carry out specific tests that can detect the presence of this substance.

Problems with GHB use

Unlike other products, the difference between a simple active dose and overdose is very small. Thus, consumers who mistakenly hope to benefit only from the euphoric effects of the product can quickly face serious health problems.

These include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Mental confusion
• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Respiratory distress
• Coma
• Amnesia (especially when GHB is mixed with alcohol)
• Death (due to a drop in blood pressure, respiratory arrest or hypothermia for example)

GHB can also cause irritation of the esophagus and mouth due to the sodium hydroxide it contains. Similarly, it creates skin irritations when it comes into direct contact with the skin.

Malicious people who want to use GHB for criminal purposes generally choose dark, festive places where alcohol is tolerated and where vigilance is low. Nightclubs, for example, are an ideal place to drug a person with GHB. Since alcohol increases the amnesic effects, the crook can then pour a discreet dose into his victim's alcoholic glass to make a profit. From there, the first effects are felt after 15 to 20 minutes and last about 1 hour.

Conclusion

Some establishments offer their customers glass hoods or condoms, this method is effective in combating the "date rape drug".

In any case, it is important to keep your glass in your hand and not to hesitate to cover it with one hand when looking elsewhere.

On the other hand, the best way to combat GHB "attacks" is to never be alone and not accept drinks offered by strangers (except when they are served in front of you).

Sources :

https://www.lecrips-idf.net/ghb-drogue

https://www.doctissimo.fr/sante/sante-au-quotidien/addictions/drogues/ghb-effects-sur-lorganism-dangers-presence-dans-le-sang/2fe1ec_ar.html