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A rise in ambulance callouts for people overdosing on the drug GHB has prompted experts to call for members of the gay community to become more informed about dealing with overdoses.
A Burnet Institute study found this week that GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyrate, overdoses had climbed faster than heroin-related overdoses, with the number of paramedic pick-ups in Melbourne increasing by four per cent each month. Two-thirds of those affected were under 25, and 90 per cent who overdosed required hospital treatment. Although 10 Australians have died after taking GHB, the study is the first to examine the extent of non-fatal overdoses.
Paul Dillon, the Director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA), told SX that drug-users in the gay community must be more informed about how to deal with overdoses.
“I’ve been talking about GHB for many years, and so many people have told me that they know what they’re doing. One by one they’ve all found themselves in hospital. This is a drug that there are no rules for,” said Dillon.
ACON CEO Stevie Clayton told SX that government research showed that GHB use in the gay community is more prevalent than in the general population.
“There is a misconception among some people who use GHB that people can safely ‘sleep off’ an overdose. A number of people have died as a result,” said Clayton. Clayton added that ambulance officers and venue staff are also trained to help people, often without police involvement.
The rising use of GHB at home, as identified by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, requires future investigation, added Clayton.
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