HIV and Alcohol & Drugs

Chemsex

Alcohol

GHB

GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate), also known as G, GBH, and liquid ecstasy, is a popular drug on the club scene, giving users an alcohol-like high with powerful sexual effects. It is also used by body-builders to help stimulate muscle growth. It is a Class B drug in New Zealand meaning that dealing and possession of the drug is illegal.

Legal Status

In 2000 GHB was easily available in New Zealand. On 1 April 2000 the media reported the first GHB fatality in New Zealand, and this was followed by numerous admissions to hospital of people with severe respiratory depression and coma after taking it. GHB and its related substances were scheduled as a Class B drug in May 2002 under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

Penalties include:

up to 14 years imprisonment for importation, manufacture, or supply of GHB
up to 10 years imprisonment for conspiracy to manufacture, import or supply GHB
up to three months imprisonment and/or a $500 fine for possession of GHB.

Appearance

GHB is a colourless liquid with a faint chemical smell and a salty taste. The drug is usually sold in brown plastic bottles, and people often use the cap to ‘measure’ a dose.

Effects

GHB affects the release of dopamine in the brain, and at low doses causes relaxation or sleep. Higher doses can lower blood pressure and can cause breathing difficulties. Overdose can cause unconsciousness and coma. People with asthma, breathing problems, epilepsy or low blood pressure are particularly likely to experience a bad reaction if they take the drug.

The drug normally starts to have an effect after about half an hour. People report feeling uninhibited, exhilarated, and relaxed. The effects normally last an hour or two but can last up to 24 hours.

It is difficult to say what a safe dose of GHB is, as concentrations of the liquid vary. Therefore, it is easy to overdose on GHB. Often this is because people take a larger dose than they think they are taking, or they take a repeat dose because they do not think the first dose has worked.

Symptoms of overdose can involve disorientation, dizziness, slurred speech, vomiting, breathing problems, fits, stupor and coma. Many people have been hospitalised after taking GHB and some people have died, often because they developed breathing problems or choked on their own vomit.

Interactions with anti-HIV drugs

GHB can interact with some anti-HIV drugs. Levels of GHB can be increased to a life-threatening extent if taken with protease inhibitors.

Interaction with alcohol and other recreational drugs

GHB should NEVER be taken at the same time, or within a few hours of alcohol as this can increase the chance of becoming unconscious or falling into a coma. GHB can also make the effects of other recreational drugs, such as ecstasy and ketamine unpredictable.

GHB and Sexual Assault

GHB (and its related substances) can be used as a date rape drug because large doses can be easily mixed with liquids including water. GHB by itself has a soapy or salty taste but when mixed with a drink it can be very difficult for a victim to detect by sight or smell.

High doses of GHB can induce a sleep like coma where the victim is in an unconscious state and very vulnerable to sexual assault.

The extent to which GHB is used as a date rape drug in New Zealand is unknown, largely due to the short life of the drug in the body and routine toxicology tests often do not detect GHB and related compounds.

If you suspect you have had your drink spiked, or have been sexually assaulted while under the influence of a date rape drug, you should report it to the Police as soon as you are able.

Other issues

Think about how your use of GHB may impact on your wider health, including your adherence to your HIV medication or the kind of sex you have.

If you are concerned about your use of GHB or any other drug, then talk to a member of your healthcare team who should be able to direct you to support.

The above information sourced and edited for New Zealand form contained on www.aidsmap.com
It is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Please talk to your doctor or another member of your HIV specialist for advice tailored to your situation.

If you find that you can not control your use of alcohol or other drugs, would like to cut back or stop or would like any other support in this area, Body Positive may be able to help.

To talk to us about getting help, please contact us on 0800 HIV LINE

The NZ Drug Foundation has resources on being safer when using alcohol or drugs. They have also released The Level as a straight up guide for people who use drugs.

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