GHB: Difference between revisions

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==Toxicity and harm potential==

[[File:harmchart.png|thumb|right|300px|Radar plot showing relative physical harm, social harm, and dependence of GHB<ref>Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673607604644</ref>]]

GHB is [[toxicity::considered to be a safe and non-toxic substance when used responsibly]] or medically. The LD50 is above the active dosage, and there is no danger of acute toxicity. However, it can be dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abused. There have been many negative reports from recreational users who have overdosed, combined GHB with alcohol or other drugs, or accidentally dosed themselves unexpectedly. <ref>https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=1926 | Erowid. "GHB Overdoses & Poisonings: An Experience with GHB (ID 1926)". Erowid.org. Jun 19, 2000. erowid.org/exp/1926 </ref>

GHB is [[toxicity::considered to be a safe and non-toxic substance when used responsibly]] or medically. The LD50 is above the active dosage, and there is no danger of acute toxicity. However, it can be dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abused. There have been many negative reports from recreational users who have overdosed, combined GHB with alcohol or other drugs, or accidentally dosed themselves unexpectedly.<ref>https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=1926 | Erowid. "GHB Overdoses & Poisonings: An Experience with GHB (ID 1926)". Erowid.org. Jun 19, 2000. erowid.org/exp/1926 </ref>

One publication has investigated 226 deaths attributed to GHB.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20825811 | Zvosec DL, Smith SW, Porrata T, Strobl AQ, Dyer JE (2011). "Case series of 226 gamma-hydroxybutyrate-associated deaths: lethal toxicity and trauma". The American Journal of Emergency Medicine 29 (3): 319–32.</ref> Seventy-one deaths (34%) were caused by GHB alone while the other deaths were from [[respiratory depression]] caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs.

To avoid a possible overdose of GHB, it is important to start with a low dose and work your way up slowly by increasing the dosage in small increments. While a common recreational dose is 3g, a dose of 5g - 10g can result in convulsions, unconsciousness and vomiting. [[toxicity::Doses above 10g+ are associated with a risk of death]].<ref name="cite"></ref> One must also factor in the added difficulty of knowing the purity of the product (among other problems like its hygroscopy may lower the concentration of GHB in one solution, which is the form which is commonly bought and sold in the illicit market). This makes it hard for even the experienced user to dose properly. <ref>https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb_health.shtml</ref>

To avoid a possible overdose of GHB, it is important to start with a low dose and work your way up slowly by increasing the dosage in small increments. While a common recreational dose is 3g, a dose of 5g - 10g can result in convulsions, unconsciousness and vomiting. [[toxicity::Doses above 10g+ are associated with a risk of death]].<ref name="cite"></ref> One must also factor in the added difficulty of knowing the purity of the product (among other problems like its hygroscopy may lower the concentration of GHB in one solution, which is the form which is commonly bought and sold in the illicit market). This makes it hard for even the experienced user to dose properly.<ref>https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb_health.shtml</ref>

Accidental ingestions of GHB have also occurred due to inadequate storage methods. If GHB is put into a clear liquid, glass, or bottle, it can be easily mistaken for water. It is recommended to clearly label your GHB in writing and dye the liquid with blue food coloring so it no longer resembles a drinkable beverage. It is also recommended to store your GHB in a container that no one would drink out of.

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 ==Toxicity and harm potential==
 [[File:harmchart.png|thumb|right|300px|Radar plot showing relative physical harm, social harm, and dependence of GHB<ref>Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673607604644</ref>]]
-GHB is [[toxicity::considered to be a safe and non-toxic substance when used responsibly]] or medically. The LD50 is above the active dosage, and there is no danger of acute toxicity. However, it can be dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abused. There have been many negative reports from recreational users who have overdosed, combined GHB with alcohol or other drugs, or accidentally dosed themselves unexpectedly. <ref>https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=1926 | Erowid. "GHB Overdoses & Poisonings: An Experience with GHB (ID 1926)". Erowid.org. Jun 19, 2000. erowid.org/exp/1926 </ref>
+GHB is [[toxicity::considered to be a safe and non-toxic substance when used responsibly]] or medically. The LD50 is above the active dosage, and there is no danger of acute toxicity. However, it can be dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abused. There have been many negative reports from recreational users who have overdosed, combined GHB with alcohol or other drugs, or accidentally dosed themselves unexpectedly.<ref>https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=1926 | Erowid. "GHB Overdoses & Poisonings: An Experience with GHB (ID 1926)". Erowid.org. Jun 19, 2000. erowid.org/exp/1926 </ref>
 One publication has investigated 226 deaths attributed to GHB.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20825811 | Zvosec DL, Smith SW, Porrata T, Strobl AQ, Dyer JE (2011). "Case series of 226 gamma-hydroxybutyrate-associated deaths: lethal toxicity and trauma". The American Journal of Emergency Medicine 29 (3): 319–32.</ref> Seventy-one deaths (34%) were caused by GHB alone while the other deaths were from [[respiratory depression]] caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs.
-To avoid a possible overdose of GHB, it is important to start with a low dose and work your way up slowly by increasing the dosage in small increments. While a common recreational dose is 3g, a dose of 5g - 10g can result in convulsions, unconsciousness and vomiting. [[toxicity::Doses above 10g+ are associated with a risk of death]].<ref name="cite"></ref> One must also factor in the added difficulty of knowing the purity of the product (among other problems like its hygroscopy may lower the concentration of GHB in one solution, which is the form which is commonly bought and sold in the illicit market). This makes it hard for even the experienced user to dose properly. <ref>https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb_health.shtml</ref>
+To avoid a possible overdose of GHB, it is important to start with a low dose and work your way up slowly by increasing the dosage in small increments. While a common recreational dose is 3g, a dose of 5g - 10g can result in convulsions, unconsciousness and vomiting. [[toxicity::Doses above 10g+ are associated with a risk of death]].<ref name="cite"></ref> One must also factor in the added difficulty of knowing the purity of the product (among other problems like its hygroscopy may lower the concentration of GHB in one solution, which is the form which is commonly bought and sold in the illicit market). This makes it hard for even the experienced user to dose properly.<ref>https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb_health.shtml</ref>
 Accidental ingestions of GHB have also occurred due to inadequate storage methods. If GHB is put into a clear liquid, glass, or bottle, it can be easily mistaken for water. It is recommended to clearly label your GHB in writing and dye the liquid with blue food coloring so it no longer resembles a drinkable beverage. It is also recommended to store your GHB in a container that no one would drink out of.