Recreational use of GHB and prescribed drugs: the challenge in forensic and clinical toxicology
V. 172 N. 5 (2021), Letter
V. 172 N. 5 (2021)

Recreational use of GHB and prescribed drugs: the challenge in forensic and clinical toxicology: doi: 10.7417/CT.2021.2351

Letter
Pubblicato 2021-10-09
P. Brunetti
Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy
F. Umani Ronchi
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
PDF

Parole chiave

GHB
overdose
polydrug use
prescribed drugs

Abstract

The dual nature and the double use of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) are the fundamentals of its spread as recreational drug. Endogenously, GHB acts as inhibitory neurotransmitter while exogenously it is administered in the form of sodium oxybate to treat cataplexy and to menage alcohol withdrawal. Illicit GHB is extensively used along with prescribed drugs and drugs of abuse for its euphoric and anabolic effects. Since it has been used as incapacitating agent to perpetrate rapes and commit robberies, GHB represents a social and public health issues. The tight window of detectability in biological matrices and the difficultly to read symptoms of polydrug overdose represent the modern challenges in forensic and clinical toxicology.

PDF