GHB/GBL
WHAT IS GHB?
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) is a central nervous system depressant. This means it slows down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It usually comes as a colourless and odourless salty tasting liquid. It sometimes comes as a blue liquid and rarely in tablet or powder form.
GHB is usually swallowed but can be injected or shelved/booty bumped.
WHAT IS GBL?
GBL is similar to GHB but the two have distinct differences. GBL is a prodrug of GHB, meaning that once ingested, GBL turns into GHB in the blood. GBL often has a faster and stronger onset than GHB. GBL often has a bitter taste, but without access to drug checking services, its difficult to know whether you're consuming GHB or GBL.
HOW GHB WORKS
Effects of GHB may be felt after about 5-15 minutes and more strongly after 20-30 minutes with a peak of one hour. Effects can last for up to 2-4 hours.
At low doses, GHB produces a high or euphoric feeling and a loss of inhibitions. As dosage increases depressants begin to affect the parts of the brain controlling the body’s automatic processes such as heartbeat and breathing.
A large dose of GHB may result in involuntary muscle contractions and spasms (seizure-like movements), confusion, memory loss, vomiting, irregular or depressed breathing and a coma.
DOSING
GHB is known for its steep dosage response. This means that a tiny increase in dose may cause a big increase in effects.
There is no ‘quality control’ in the production of GHB, so the concentration of the drug could be high or low or it might be GBL, 1,4BD or another chemical entirely. These factors combined with the steep dosage response means that an amount that works one time may result in an overdose the next time.
Another overdose risk occurs when people re-dose too soon after a previous dose. Take your time and wait 2 - 3 hours between doses. Noting the time each time you dose and setting an alarm on your phone may help with this.
After a long session of partying the effect of GHB can build up in your body and overdoses can happen so if you are dosing more than once, make sure that your second, third, fourth etc. doses are reduced.
Long term use of GHB can lead to tolerance and dependence meaning that larger amounts of GHB are needed to get the same effect and care is needed to avoid overdosing. Keep in mind that if you use GHB regularly at higher doses, the same size dose might be enough to cause an overdose in someone who doesn’t use GHB as regularly as you.
GHB & SEX
GHB can make you want to have sex. Its effects can also cause short-term memory loss and can decrease the ability to consent to sex. Having sex with someone too ‘out of it’ to say yes or no is not OK and is considered sexual assault.
If using GHB and having sex be mindful of your sexual health. It is good practice to test regularly for HIV and other STIs, take your HIV treatments or PrEP as prescribed and use condoms.
GHB & SEX VENUES
Using GHB at clubs and sex venues can be risky, due to the possibility of overdose in a locked cubicle where help is not available, and of injury from falling onto hard surfaces such as stairs and shower floors.
In saunas or at home, avoid using spas or swimming pools. Overdosing on GHB can happen suddenly and if you are in deep enough water, the chance of drowning is increased.
If you see someone who looks like they are asleep and can’t be woken, is incoherent or can’t control their movements, let staff know immediately.
To find out more about GHB and avoiding the drop zone (GHB overdose) head to:
For more information on GHB/GBL check out the following resources and information:
- Touchbase - an initiative by the Victorian AIDS Council, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, is an LGBTI focused website for alcohol and other drug information and support.
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) - ADF aims to prevent alcohol and other drug harms in Australia.
- HowHard - information about sexual health, sexual practices and drug use written by sexually adventurous men for sexually adventurous men.
- Having sex on GHB/GBL? David Stewart has been working and researching in the Chemsex field for over 15 years and currently manages the ChemSex support programmes at 56 Dean Street sexual health clinic in London. Check out his ChemSex Care Plan.
- Find out how your GHB/GBL use stacks up against other people from around the world at https://drugsmeter.com/ghbgbl/.
- GHB golden rules is a video produced by the global drugs survey that discusses putting in some boundaries to help keep safe when using GHB/GBL.
- Every drop counts is a video produced by the global drugs survey that discusses safer dosing of GHB/ GBL.
- Want to check in with ACON’s substance support service? You can fill out an enquiry form.