Thu, 14 May 11:00 2009

GBL: the latest (legal) online killer drug craze claims third victim in 12 months

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There is worrying evidence for an increasing use o

Expatriate teenagers living in Spain and drugs - EWN campaign needs readers’ feedback
BY ALFREDO BLOY
IN the early hours of Sunday, April 28, the body of 21-year-old medical student, Hester Stewart, was found at a house in Brighton following a party. Next to her body, police found a bottle of GBL (gamma-butyrolactone).
Hester is the third person thought to have died of a GBL overdose in the past 12 months. Many parents have no idea what GBL is, nor the risks it poses to their children.
GBL: The party drug
GBL is a paint stripper and rust remover, used in garages, that can be legally bought on the internet in England and Spain. But it is also a drug many teenagers are getting high on - and dying from.
GBL can be bought, for less than 30 euros, online, working out at half a euro for a ‘hit’ or ‘shot’ as it is often called. It is mixed with water or juice, and is virtually tasteless and odourless when diluted, but produces a similar high to that achieved with ecstasy. GBL is rapidly converted into GHB in the body and there is currently no readily-available test to determine which of the two substances has been taken.
In August 2008, the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) issued a report on GBL, in which it said: “Reports of GHB misuse were first highlighted in the 1990s among bodybuilders who used it for its purported growth hormone stimulating effects. It was also bought as a sleep aid and a dietary supplement. Gradually, reports of adverse events involving the use of GHB came to light.”
Reports that GHB could produce a state of euphoria, without ‘hangover’ effects, helped promote it as a ‘club drug’. It was also purported to enhance the effects of alcohol and stimulants as well as enhancing the libido. This type of promotion helped GHB to become a popular niche drug as part of the night-club scene.
Health risks
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiciton says: “Both GHB and GBL have a steep dose- response curve, with rapid onset of symptoms, which greatly increases the risks associated with illicit use.”
Nausea, vomiting and various degrees of impaired consciousness are the main adverse affects in most reported cases of GHB intoxication.
However, the frequent presence of other drugs may complicate the clinical presentation.
A Dutch study of 72 GHB users reported that the majority had passed out at least once while on GHB and some had done so frequently (Korf et al, 2002).
Since GHB became classified as a ‘Class C’ drug in 2003, due to it having been frequently used as a ‘date rape’ drug, many party-goers began using GBL instead.
A legal high
Following Hester Stewart’s death, the government has promised to consider banning GBL.
The 2008 ACMD report also warned: “There is some evidence for an increasing use of GBL as a ‘club drug’, and it has allegedly been used in some drug-facilitated sexual assaults.”
While the US, Canada and Sweden have already banned it, in France and Germany, many nightclubs display signs warning the public that GBL and GHB, when combined with alcohol, can result in death.
Although there are many companies, like ‘GBL-Europe’, who sell the product openly, promising “Top quality GBL... Delivered to you in 72 hours,” experts say it is easier to overdose on GBL than heroin.
In July last year, 11 people were arrested in Alicante, Madrid and Malaga, on suspicion of involvement in a drugs trafficking network. More than 14 litres of GBL were seized at that time (that’s 9,400 ‘shots’).
Expatriate teenagers at risk
Expatriate teenagers, living in Spain, are becoming increasingly addicted to hard drugs like crack cocaine, heroin, GBH and GBL.
We are researching the subject of the large number of expatriate teenagers who are falling or have fallen victim to drug abuse on the Spanish Costas.
We would like your views and stories
Perhaps you, yourself, are an expatriate who became addicted to drugs and would like to tell us your story. Or maybe you are a parent whose child has lived through this.
Who is to blame?
Are they rich kids with too much time and money, or are they disaffected youths, who don’t quite fit in?
Are they victims of evil drug dealers preying on their vulnerability? What action should parents take to help their children?
We would especially like to be able to offer some helpful advice to parents or addicts on what is available to help them recover, from an expatriate in Spain perspective.
Therefore, if your advice or experience could help someone else, then this will all be worthwhile.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Details will be treated in confidence if requested -
the choice is yours.

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