Weekly Dose: GHB, a party drug that's easy to overdose on but was once used in childbirth
- Written by Julaine Allan, Senior Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University
GHB stands for gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (also known as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid) and is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter. It’s also a recreational drug.
People take it at dance parties and to enhance sex. Although it’s a depressant, like alcohol, in small doses people find it stimulates them.
It’s in the news in Australia because at least 20 people were taken to hospital recently with suspected GHB overdoses after attending a recent music festival in Melbourne.
Overdoses can happen easily because people do not know the strength of the drug they are taking. Also, the amount needed for the desired effect is not much less than the amount that can cause an overdose.
Authors: Julaine Allan, Senior Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University