GHB addiction treatment

Drug-Rehab.ca will assist you in finding help for GHB addiction, rehabilitation and also GHB detox. Drug-Rehab.ca will also give you a better understanding of the different types of GHB treatment centers available and help you choose the best GHB rehab that would fit your needs.

Drug Rehab Service's main objective is to refer you to the best GHB rehab. We want the person with a GHB addiction to achieve a drug free life without the use of substitutions. Thus, Drug-Rehab.ca will refer you to GHB rehab centers that don't use drugs in any shape or form.

GHB information

Drug: Gamma hydroxybutyrate

GHB street name: "Liquid Ecstasy," "Somatomax," "Scoop," "Georgia Home Boy,"

GHB Effects: At lower doses GHB has a euphoric effect similar to Alcohol, and can make the user feel relaxed, happy and sociable.

Higher doses can make the user feel dizzy, sleepy and can sometimes cause vomiting, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.

Overdoses will always cause loss of consciousness (temporary coma) and will slow down breathing. Sometimes, and particularly if mixed with Alcohol, GHB can slow breathing down to a dangerously low rate, which has caused a number of deaths.

GHB Description: GHB usually comes as an odorless liquid, slightly salty to the taste, and sold in small bottles. It has also been found in powder and capsule form. It is classified as a sedative-hypnotic, and was originally developed as a sleep-aid.

Since about 1990, GHB (gamma- hydroxybutyrate) has been abused in the U.S. for euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (bodybuilding) effects. As with Rohypnol and Clonazepam, GHB has been associated with sexual assault in cities throughout the country. Reports from Detroit indicate liquid GHB is being used in nightclubs for effects similar to those of Rohypnol. It is also common in the club scene in Phoenix, Honolulu, and Texas, where it is known as "liquid ecstasy," "somatomax," "scoop," or "grievous bodily harm." In Miami, poison control center calls have reflected problems associated with increased GHB use, including loss of consciousness. In New York City, there have been reports of GHB use among those in the fashion industry. In Atlanta, it is commonly used as a synthetic steroid at fitness centers and gyms. Coma and seizures can occur following abuse of GHB and, when combined with methamphetamine, there appears to be an increased risk of seizure. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating. Because of concern about Rohypnol, GHB, and other similarly abused sedative-hypnotics, Congress passed the "Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996" in October 1996. This legislation increased Federal penalties for use of any controlled substance to aid in sexual assault.

GHB Street Use: usually ingested in a liquid mixture; most commonly mixed with Alcohol

GHB Dependency: rare due to rapid elimination. GHB Dependence may occur with excessive use.

GHB can be physically addictive and might result in psychological addiction. Physical dependence occurs when GHB is used on a regular basis (i.e. every 2-4 hours for multiple consecutive days or weeks).

GHB Withdrawal Symptoms

GHB withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:
-sleepiness
-dizziness
-loss of coordination
-nausea and vomiting
-seizures
-loss of bladder control
-diarrhea
-sudden and dangerous drop in blood pressure
-decreased heart rate
-difficulty breathing
-loss of consciousness,
-coma or death

These adverse effects will subside after 2 - 21 days depending on frequency of usage and the amount used. In some severe cases, withdrawal from GHB may cause symptoms similar to acute withdrawal from alcohol or barbiturates (delirium tremens) and can lead to convulsions and hallucinations. Even though there have been reported deaths due to GHB withdrawal, reports are inconclusive and further research is needed. Unlike alcohol, there is no firm information that chronic use of GHB creates permanent damage to the body. In rats, no organ or brain damage was seen after regular administration of GBL (a precursor to GHB).

GHB Legal Status:

Recreational: GHB is a central nervous system depressant used as an intoxicant. It has several street terms, including Gina, Georgia Home Boy, G, GB, GBH, Juice, Fantasy, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, Gamma-OH and Jungle Juice.

The substance is frequently represented as a date rape drug, much in the same way as alcohol and rohypnol. It is occasionally referred to as liquid ecstasy because of its tendency to produce euphoria and sociability and its use in the dance party scene. Nonetheless the effects of GHB are quite different from those of MDMA.

The sodium salt of GHB has a thin, salty, chemical taste. At low doses, GHB can create a state of euphoria, raised libido, increased sociability and intoxication. This kind of use is especially usual at rave parties. At higher quantities, GHB might induce nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, agitation, visual disturbances, depressed breathing, amnesia and unconsciousness. The effects of GHB can last from 1.5 to 3 hours or even longer if big doses have been used or if it is mixed with alcohol. Consumption among athletes and bodybuilders is also known, as GHB is thought to raise growth hormone release; there is some evidence supporting these claims but actual efficacy for this purpose is unclear.

Usually, the doses used recreationally are between 500 mg and 3000 mg, corresponding to about 0.5–3 mL of liquid if the concentration is 1 gram / 1 mL (which is not always the case). When used as a recreational substance, GHB may be found as a pure liquid, or as GHB salt dissolved in water, usually at a standardized concentration of 1 gram / 1 mL and so is twice the strength of the Xyrem solution sold legally for medical use.

Usually, the doses used recreationally are between 500 mg and 3000 mg, corresponding to about 0.5–3 mL of liquid if the concentration is 1 gram / 1 mL (which is not always the case). When used as a recreational substance, GHB may be found as a pure liquid, or as GHB salt dissolved in water, usually at a standardized concentration of 1 gram / 1 mL and so is twice the strength of the Xyrem solution sold legally for medical use.

Certain chemicals convert to GHB in the stomach and blood. GBL, or gamma-butyrolactone, is one such prosubstance. Other pro-drugs include 1,4-butanediol. There might be additional toxicity issues with these precursors. 1,4-B and GBL are usually found as pure liquids, even though they may be mixed with other more harmful solvents when intended for industrial use, e.g. as paint stripper or varnish thinner.

GHB Long-Term Use:

In instances of regular or prolonged GHB use and addiction, an additional anecdotal symptom is occasionally noted, consisting of a form of dyskinesia similar to tardive dyskinesia, manifested in involuntary jaw-clacking, or a tick that presents in spontaneous clicking sounds. This symptom frequently takes longer to dissipate than the instantaneous GHB withdrawal symptoms, probably indicating a different mechanism of action from that of direct withdrawal. This is also supported by reports of the dyskinesia developing concurrently with active GHB use in regular users (particularly in those who co-administer the drug with amphetamines).