Annual Meeting, Clinical Toxicology, 44:5, 625-783, DOI: 10.1080/15563650600795966. 27. A Severe Outburst of GHB Poisonings (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, ...
Abstracts of the 2006 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting
(2006) Abstracts of the 2006 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting, Clinical Toxicology, 44:5, 625-783, DOI: 10.1080/15563650600795966 27. A Severe Outburst of GHB Poisonings (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Gamma hydroxybutyric Acid) on the West Coast of Sweden. Mortality Numbers ahead of Heroin
Knudsen K, Greter J, Verdichio M, Cederquist T. Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden; Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Forensic Medicine, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden.
Background: Acute poisoning with GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) has been an increasing medical and social problem during the last decade in Sweden, especially on the west coast. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a drug of abuse that causes euphoria, anxiolysis and hypnosis.
Methods: The numbers of seized illicit drugs has been recorded by the police force. The numbers of poisoned patients has been recorded with appropriate diagnosis numbers from hospital data-base search. Diagnosis of GHB poisoning was not regularly confirmed by laboratory analysis but rather on the history of the patients. The number of deaths has been recorded by the department of forensic medicine after analysis with a positive drug screening.
Results: Between 1996 and 2004 the number of seized cases by the police with GHB was 743, GBL 343 and 1,4-butanediol 236, respectively. In 2004, the total number of deaths on the west coast of Sweden due to poisonings or drug abuse was 6 due to heroin, 7 due to GHB, 32 due to amphetamine, 6 due to cocaine, and one due to methadone. The number of
admitted poisoned patients to Sahlgrenska University Hospital during 1996–2004 was 259. One patient died after admittance to the hospital. Discussion: Since GBL and butanediol are not classified as illicit drugs the possibilities for the police force to intervene and capture the drugs are severely restricted. Morbidity and mortality has earlier been regarded as rather harmless with these drugs, but our data shows that mortality may be as serious as with heroin.
Conclusion: A legal classification of GBL and butanediol as narcotics appears to be medically motivated. Drug abuse with GHB is a serious advent with mortality close to heavy addiction to narcotics. Intoxication by GBL and butanediol appears to be as dangerous as intoxication by GHB.
