GHB: One dead, four in hospital after series of overdoses of the party drug

ONE person has died and four people are in intensive following a series of overdoses from the party drug GHB, also known as “Fantasy” or “G”.

GHB: A killer drug on the city’s streets

• SECURITY GUARD HOSPITALISED AFTER TAKING GHB

ONE person has died and four people are in intensive following a series of overdoses from the party drug GHB.

St Vincent’s Hospital Director of Emergency Gordian Fulde has sent a dire warning to users of GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate), also known as “Fantasy” or “G” after a man died yesterday.

Eight people were admitted to St Vincent’s with suspected GHB overdoses from Friday to Sunday. Three out of four partygoers admitted on Saturday, along with a person admitted yesterday are all in intensive care.

St Vincent’s Hospital Director of Emergency Gordian Fulde / Picture: Kristi Miller

The drug is a depressant which slows down the body’s central nervous system and is often mixed with alcohol producing a potentially deadly cocktail.

“There is a drug on the street being sold as G which is killing people and putting others in intensive care. Anyone who has any G should flush it down the toilet,” Dr Fulde said.

Dr Fulde said the liquid drug works as an anaesthetic and also naturally occurs in our bodies. He said because it was taken in a liquid form, often with alcohol, users find it hard to track how much they were taking.

“We saw several patients suffering from the effects of G over the weekend where had they not been brought to emergency they could’ve well stopped breathing — the next step of the drug’s effect after becoming unconscious,” he said.

“The first case on Saturday morning was a young female found totally unconscious on the street with a big bruise on her head. Resuscitation and scans followed which fortunately showed just an overdose of G.”

Detections of GHB and a more potent variant GBL, illegally being imported into the country continue to increase.

The Australian Border Force said GBL, also known as “coma in a bottle”, metabolises into the drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in the body and can cause abrupt loss of consciousness, memory loss, respiratory difficulties, coma and death.

The ABF made a record seizure of the drug last December when a 37-year-old allegedly tried to smuggle 62 litres of GBL in his luggage on a flight from Thailand.

“This is dangerous substance, capable of ruining many lives in a single incident,” ABF Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald said after the seizure.

In late 2014 four men were rushed to hospital after overdosing on GHB at The Ivy.

Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke said at the time partygoers were “gambling” with their lives.

“While GHB detections remain low in number when compared to other illicit drug types, the manufacture, sale and use of this extremely dangerous drug continues to concern police,” he said.