GHB

Just Say Know!

Name(s): G, JUICE, OJ, GINA, MILS, FISHIES, FANTASY, LIQUID ECSTASY, GBH* 
*Mostly used by police and tabloid news media
Chemical Compound:
GHB – gamma-hydroxybutyrate
GBL – gamma-butyrolactone
1,4B – 1,4-butanediol

GHB is a central nervous system depressant drug, meaning that it acts to slow down heart rate and breathing. GHB is usually sold as a liquid, but it can also come in powder form. In Australia, GBL and 1,4B are commonly sold as GHB – these compounds are turned into GHB in the body. GHB itself has a salty or sometimes a liquorice taste, while GBL and 1,4B have an unpleasant bitter chemical taste. This resource will refer to GHB throughout; this can be taken to apply to GBL and 1,4B interchangeably, except where specifically stated.

Know your mind, know your body, know your substance, and know your limits.

General Information

How it’s Taken: Swallowed

Duration of Effects:
Total duration: 1.5-5 hours
Onset: 10-20 minutes
Peak: 45-90 minutes
Coming down: 15-30 minutes
Hangover/after effects: 2-4 hours
Even though the apparent effects of the drug wear off after 1.5 hours, the drug is still active in your system for up to 5 hours after you have taken it. Remember this if choosing to use other substances.

Most Common Effects:

• Decreased motor skills

• Lack of coordination

• Relaxation

• Blurred vision

• Slurred speech

• Involuntary muscle twitches – can cause legs to give way

• Nausea

• Drowsiness

• Vomiting

• Depressed breathing & heart rate

• Euphoria

• Happiness

• Mood lift

• Increased sexual desire

• Increased appreciation of music/people/dancing

*Effects vary greatly from one person to another

Less Common Effects:

• Repetitive motions ‘Chicken arms’

• Unconsciousness (“blowout”)

• Rolling eyes

• Nodding off

• Excitability

• Aggression

• Confusion

• Blackout

• Decreased social inhibition

Rare Effects:

• Seizure/convulsions

• Incontinence

• Death

Possible Long-term effects:

These effects are possible with extended use:

• Risk of physical and psychological dependency

• Stomach ulcers

Call 000 if experiencing an adverse effects, feel unwell or concerned in any way

Safer Using Tips :

Taking drugs is never without risk. Information on dose and length of action are of a general nature. Each person’s response to a drug will depend heavily upon individual factors such as body weight, kidney and liver function. Because most illicit drugs are of unknown purity and weight, use caution when dosing, start low and go slow.

• The difference between an overdose and a recreational dose can be less than 0.5 mL, so exercise extreme caution when dosing. Seek medical assistance immediately, if you suspect you or your friend has overdosed.

• Liquid GHB can vary widely in strength. Start with a small dose of any new batch to test strength.

• GHB dosage varies based on substance strength and the user’s body weight. A standard dose is usually between 1-2 mL. Start at the lower end if you are inexperienced or using a new batch.

• For accurate dosing it’s best to use a 3 mL syringe (plunger/barrel) without a sharp (needle).

• Soy sauce fish containers are sometimes used to measure doses. When full, standard capacity is 2.6mL however these sizes vary between states, and some states have 4-8mL fish.

• Wait at least 1 hour before redosing. Some people take smaller doses (1 mL) every hour, while others take larger doses (2 mL) every 2 hours.

• GHB has a stacking effect over multiple doses throughout a session; which means the second or third dose will have a stronger effect than the first. For this reason, it’s best to lower your dose slightly when redosing, e.g. first dose = 1 mL, second dose = 0.9 mL, third dose = 0.8 mL, etc.

• Any food in your stomach when you dose will slow down the absorption of GHB. You may not feel the effects so much, but it is still in your system and the risk of overdose still exists.

• If you or your friends witness a ‘G drop’ or overdose, you should get medical help immediately. Call 000 in urban areas. At a festival, get the medics to attend the incident.

• Use in a safe environment with people that you trust. Avoid using GHB without other people around.

• Let your friends know when you are dosing and how much you are having. Your friends can (and should) also let you know if they think you should ease up.

• Use your phone to record the time of your doses – it’s easy to forget when you had your last dose and accidentally re-dose too soon.

• Keep the drug in a clearly marked glass bottle whenever possible – GBL and 1,4B are corrosive solvents and may melt plastic.

• Add food dye to your GHB so it’s not mistaken  for water.

• Replace syringes regularly. The lines and numbers are often rubbed off from repeated use – using sticky tape to cover the lines and numbers can make them last longer, but it’s best to replace syringes as often as possible.

• Shake the bottle before each dose to ensure an even distribution of the drug in the liquid for more consistent dosing.

• Dilute GHB in a non-alcoholic drink to decrease corrosive effects on your digestive system. Putting your dose in a glass of water or soft drink can make it easier to stomach.

• GHB can feel like it’s worn off when it is still active in your system. Exercise caution whenever re-dosing

Unsafe Combinations:

GHB combined with…

• Alcohol = nausea, vomiting, and overdose. Alcohol and GHB/GBL act on the brain in similar ways and increase the sedative effects of one another. Alcohol stops the effects of 1,4B from coming on straight away, leading to potentially dangerous redosing, and possible overdose. It is STRONGLY recommended that you avoid combining GHB/GBL/1,4B with alcohol.

• Depressants (benzos, opioids, etc.) = overdose, loss of consciousness, depressed breathing and slowed heart rate which can lead to death.

• Ketamine = risk of harm related to loss of coordination and/or consciousness and it’s possible to choke on your own vomit.

• Stimulants = heart strain. Symptoms are difficult for emergency services to properly diagnose, making them difficult to treat. The erratic behaviour that can come from this combination can make it necessary for medical staff to involve security or police for their safety

Take a look at the TripSit drug combinations chart HERE for info on other combinations

GHB is not recommended to take if you have or have had:

• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• Stomach ulcers

Speak to you doctor for more info on drug combinations/health conditions. Call (02) 8354 7300 or 1800 644 413 (free call) for referrals

Roadside Drug test:

It is illegal to drive under the influence of any illicit drugs, including GHB. GHB is not detectable by a saliva test. It’s best not to drive until the effects have completely worn off and you have had a decent sleep. Make sure you take this into consideration when planning your ride home from a festival or event

Read more about Mobile Drug Testing HERE