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 (ScienceDirect) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673607604644</ref>]]

[[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 substances of potential misuse (ScienceDirect) | 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>

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===Dangerous interactions===

Although many ~~drugs~~ are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. [https://www.google.com/ Independent research] should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

Although many substances are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. [https://www.google.com/ Independent research] should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

*'''[[Depressants]]''' (''[[1,4-Butanediol]], [[2-methyl-2-butanol]], [[alcohol]], [[barbiturates]], [[benzodiazepines]], [[GBL]], [[methaqualone]], [[opioids]], [[gabapentin]], [[pregabalin]], [[phenibut]]'') - This combination can result in dangerous or even fatal levels of [[respiratory depression]]. A review of the details of 194 deaths attributed to or related to GHB over a ten-year period found that most were from respiratory depression caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071203005230/http://www.aafs.org/pdf/Seattleabstracts06.pdf</ref> In humans, GHB has been shown to inhibit the elimination rate of alcohol. This may explain the respiratory arrest that has been reported after ingestion of both drugs.<ref>The role of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the treatment of alcoholism: from animal to clinical studies (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10075397</ref> These substances potentiate the [[muscle relaxation]], [[sedation]] and [[amnesia]] caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation.<ref>https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb_health.shtml</ref><ref>Suspicious death related to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) toxicity (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15274975</ref> If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [[recovery position]] or have a friend move them into it.

*'''[[Dissociatives]]''' - This combination can result in an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [[recovery position]] or have a friend move them into it.

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==Legal issues==

*'''USA:''' GHB was placed on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in March 2000. However, when sold as sodium oxybate, it is considered a Schedule III substance but with Schedule I trafficking penalties.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20100116121252/http://www.projectghb.org/laws.htm</ref> It is one of several ~~drugs~~ that are listed in multiple schedules.

*'''USA:''' GHB was placed on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in March 2000. However, when sold as sodium oxybate, it is considered a Schedule III substance but with Schedule I trafficking penalties.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20100116121252/http://www.projectghb.org/laws.htm</ref> It is one of several substances that are listed in multiple schedules.

*'''UK:''' GHB was made a Class C drug in June 2003.

*'''Hong Kong:''' GHB is regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ==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 (ScienceDirect) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673607604644</ref>]]
+[[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 substances of potential misuse (ScienceDirect) | 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>
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 ===Dangerous interactions===
-Although many drugs are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. [https://www.google.com/ Independent research] should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.
+Although many substances are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. [https://www.google.com/ Independent research] should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.
 *'''[[Depressants]]''' (''[[1,4-Butanediol]], [[2-methyl-2-butanol]], [[alcohol]], [[barbiturates]], [[benzodiazepines]], [[GBL]], [[methaqualone]], [[opioids]], [[gabapentin]], [[pregabalin]], [[phenibut]]'') - This combination can result in dangerous or even fatal levels of [[respiratory depression]]. A review of the details of 194 deaths attributed to or related to GHB over a ten-year period found that most were from respiratory depression caused by interaction with alcohol or other drugs.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071203005230/http://www.aafs.org/pdf/Seattleabstracts06.pdf</ref> In humans, GHB has been shown to inhibit the elimination rate of alcohol. This may explain the respiratory arrest that has been reported after ingestion of both drugs.<ref>The role of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the treatment of alcoholism: from animal to clinical studies (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10075397</ref> These substances potentiate the [[muscle relaxation]], [[sedation]] and [[amnesia]] caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation.<ref>https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb_health.shtml</ref><ref>Suspicious death related to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) toxicity (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15274975</ref> If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [[recovery position]] or have a friend move them into it.
 *'''[[Dissociatives]]''' - This combination can result in an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the [[recovery position]] or have a friend move them into it.
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 ==Legal issues==
-*'''USA:''' GHB was placed on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in March 2000. However, when sold as sodium oxybate, it is considered a Schedule III substance but with Schedule I trafficking penalties.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20100116121252/http://www.projectghb.org/laws.htm</ref> It is one of several drugs that are listed in multiple schedules.
+*'''USA:''' GHB was placed on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in March 2000. However, when sold as sodium oxybate, it is considered a Schedule III substance but with Schedule I trafficking penalties.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20100116121252/http://www.projectghb.org/laws.htm</ref> It is one of several substances that are listed in multiple schedules.
 *'''UK:''' GHB was made a Class C drug in June 2003.
 *'''Hong Kong:''' GHB is regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.