Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Impact of GBL dependence 'chilling'

Chris Greenwood,Pa
Friday 10 December 2010 17:20 GMT
Comments

Young professionals looking for a cheap high have been caught out by the addictive and dangerous drug GBL, one expert said today.

Dr James Bell, of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, said he focused on the drug as colleagues faced a wave of victims.

He said Gamma Butryolactone (GBL) was first popular among gay clubbers, who dubbed it charisma because it made them outgoing and boosted their sex drive.

But it soon spread to other young people looking for an extremely cheap, and at one point legal, high.

Dr Bell said many users do not realise a small overdose could leave them fighting for their lives in intensive care.

Others were caught out because it is highly addictive and left them facing terrible withdrawal symptoms.

A typical dose of the drug is 1ml, but 2ml is enough to make many people fall asleep and higher quantities can kill.

Dr Bell said the impact of GBL dependence was "chilling" and many doctors did not realise what they were facing when victims turned up at hospital.

He said: "It has got a narrow dependence window. I have heard of people taking GBL and then falling asleep at the wheel of their car.

"Overdosing is a serious problem. About three cases a week present at St Thomas' Hospital where people have overdosed on GBL.

"There have been deaths, but I do not know how many. The ban was the result of a medical student who used it and died."

Dr Bell opened a clinic to treat GBL addicts in June last year as colleagues faced growing numbers of people abusing the chemical.

The expert said that, unlike with other street drugs, users tended to be well-educated, relatively privileged and "socially functional" people.

Dr Bell said addicts often use the drug every three hours around the clock, carrying a bottle of it to sip.

He added: "It usually starts because they are using it to help them sleep, but after a few weeks they find themselves unable to function without it."

Speaking about withdrawal, the expert said it is "worse than alcohol withdrawal" - victims are often delirious and some have been looked after in intensive care.

Dr Bell said many users stocked up on the drug before it was banned in December 2009 and demand does not seem to have fallen.

He said: "It does not seem to have diminished greatly, the availability of this drug, it can still be ordered from multiple websites.

"And there is a slow but steady stream of people coming for treatment. The long-term effects are unknown."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in