GHB Addiction | Signs, Symptoms & Effects

GHB is a chemical that acts as a central nervous system depressant, slows down brain activity and makes you feel relaxed and sleepy. In the medical field, GHB is used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder where people fall asleep randomly, by helping patients get enough deep, restful sleep at night.

However, GHB is often abused as a recreational drug because it can make people feel happy and euphoric. GHB is sometimes referred to as “liquid ecstasy” due to these effects and because it is usually in a clear liquid form.

Recreational GHB abuse is extremely dangerous, as taking too much GHB can cause you to pass out, stop breathing or even die. GHB is also known as a “date rape” drug because it is sometimes used to “spike” victims drinks, leaving them vulnerable to assault as it incapacitates them and causes amnesia.

In the UK, GHB is classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This classification means that it is illegal to possess, supply or produce GHB without a proper prescription and that you can go to prison for up to fourteen years.

The path to GHB addiction can vary from person to person but usually goes something like this:

Your friend tells you that GHB feels amazing, so you decide to try something new. You take GHB, which makes you feel good, relaxed and happy. Because you enjoy this feeling, you decide to use GHB again.

Over time, you realise that you need more GHB to get that same feeling. This is called building tolerance. As you keep using more GHB to satisfy the increased need, your body then starts to depend on it, so when you try to stop, you feel anxious, shaky or unable to sleep. These are GHB addiction withdrawal symptoms, and they can make it very hard to quit.

Eventually, using GHB also becomes a way to deal with stress or emotional pain, and you may start relying on it to feel normal or to handle social situations. Once you are both emotionally reliant and physically and mentally dependent on GHB, you are considered to be in the grip of GHB addiction. At this point, you will continue to take GHB compulsively even though you can recognise it is not good for you and is affecting your health and happiness.

The side effects of GHB addiction can harm your health, relationships and your future. Some of the dangers you need to be aware of include:

Effective GHB addiction treatment is a three-stage process which involves:

1. Drug detox: This involves medically guided GHB withdrawal with doctors monitoring you and keeping you safe and comfortable.
2. Drug rehab: This focuses on emotional, mental and social reasons for GHB use, helping you understand why you take drugs and find the motivation and means to change your life.
3. Aftercare and relapse prevention: Often includes ongoing work in therapy, attending local addiction support groups and drawing on other resources to help maintain sobriety from GHB.

If GHB addiction has taken over your life, you should know that recovery is possible! Linwood House offers comprehensive GHB addiction programmes to guide you through every stage of healing. Contact us today, and we can help you get started on the most important journey you ever take – the journey to recovery.