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Club Drug Use – Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

Get emergency care if you or a loved one has serious thoughts of suicide or harming others.

What is GHB?

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an illegal drug that is used as a muscle builder, a “party drug” and a “date-rape” drug. GHB is available in liquid form, powder form or as a pill. GHB has been linked to many serious illnesses and even deaths. GHB has many names.

What are the dangers of GHB use?

There are many side effects of GHB. They include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of coordination
  • Changes in blood pressure
  • Trouble breathing
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Impaired judgment
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Death

These effects usually appear 10 to 20 minutes after a person takes the drug.

Common street names of GHB

  • Blue nitro
  • Cherry fX bombs
  • Cherry meth
  • Easy lay
  • Everclear
  • Firewater
  • Gamma G
  • Georgia homeboy
  • GHB
  • H. revitalizer
  • Gib
  • Goops
  • Great hormones at bedtime
  • Grievous bodily harm
  • G-riffick
  • Growth hormone booster
  • Insom-X
  • Invigorate
  • Lemon fX drops
  • Liquid ecstasy
  • Liquid E
  • Liquid X
  • Longevity
  • Natural sleep-500
  • Nature’s quaalude
  • Orange fX rush
  • Organic quaalude
  • Oxy-sleep
  • Poor man’s heroin
  • Remforce
  • Revivarant
  • Salty water
  • Scoop
  • Soap
  • Somatomax PM
  • Somsanit
  • Vita-G
  • Water
  • Wolfies
  • Zonked

Should I be worried about GHB?

Yes. Because GHB has no color or smell, it can easily be slipped into drinks and food. Even a very small amount of GHB may cause a person to “black out” (become unconscious). This is why GHB is often used as a “date-rape” drug.

What should I tell my children about GHB?

GHB is used most often by teenagers and young adults. Talk with your children about the dangers of GHB. Warn them not to accept drinks from other people or drink from containers they didn’t open themselves. Tell them to keep their drinks with them all the time, even if they go into the bathroom. If you have any questions, contact your healthcare provider.

Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.

Revised/Updated: 02-01-2014

Created: 09-01-2000

This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, contact your family healthcare provider.

Copyright (c) by the American Academy of Family Physicians

Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for non-profit educational uses.

Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

Nova Scotia Telecare, Reviewed by Clinical Services Working Group, August 2019

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