GHB Misuse and Addiction

GHB is a depressant that, despite legitimate medical purposes, also carries a potential for misuse and addiction. Many may misuse GHB for its sedative properties, but may put themselves at risk for developing an addiction. Luckily, evidence-based addiction treatment can lead to positive health outcomes. Understanding what GHB is, what GHB misuse can cause, and how treatment can help is essential for making healthy life choices.

What is GHB?

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a depressant that medical professionals may use to treat narcolepsy.¹ While GHB has legitimate medical purposes, people often misuse the drug for its anxiolytic (e.g., anti-anxiety) and sedative properties.² GHB is primarily misused by teenagers and young adults at nightclubs and raves but has been increasingly involved in drug-facilitated sexual assault.² GHB misuse can expose users to several risks, including overdose and addiction.

Is GHB Addictive?

Yes, someone who repeatedly uses gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) can become addicted to the drug.¹ Regular use of GHB can lead to tolerance, in which a person must take increasingly higher or more frequent doses of the drug to achieve the same effect.³ This can drive the development of physiological dependence, where the person’s body adapts to the presence of the drug and relies on it to function.³

Tolerance and dependence are not the same things as addiction. However, they are 2 of the criteria used to diagnose addiction in clinical settings.⁴ According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction is a chronic disease where a person continues to use a substance even though it results in negative health, occupational, or social consequences.⁴ Addiction often includes tolerance and dependence, but there are social, physical, and psychological components as well. For example, the person may neglect their work or school responsibilities in favor of drug use or crave the substance.⁴

Risks of GHB Misuse and Addiction

GHB misuse can result in several adverse health effects, some of which can be life-threatening. The potential adverse health effects of GHB misuse include:¹

• Drowsiness.
• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Confusion.
• Memory loss.
• Unconsciousness.
• Slowed breathing.
• Slowed heart rate.
• Lower body temperature.

More severe adverse health effects can include overdose, seizures, coma, and death.¹ It can be difficult for users to know how much GHB they are taking, increasing the risk of overdose. GHB overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, slowed heart rate, and unconsciousness.⁶

Combining GHB and alcohol (e.g., polysubstance use) is particularly dangerous and can cause memory blackouts and respiratory depression, which can be fatal.¹ Unfortunately, GHB is often used as a “date rape” drug because it can be easily added unknowingly to a person’s drink. GHB is hard to detect in drinks, and only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired effects, which is why GHB-involved instances of sexual assault are on the rise.⁶

In addition to the risks associated with GHB misuse, the effects of addiction can be far-reaching. People with addiction are more likely to experience:⁷

• Financial trouble.
• Relationship trouble.
• Mental and physical health problems (e.g., cancer, lung disease, stroke).
• Increased risk of infectious disease (e.g., HIV/AIDs).
• Increased risk of accidents and injury.

How Do I Get Help for GHB Misuse and Addiction?

Overcoming an addiction to sedatives like GHB is difficult, but addiction can be effectively managed.^{8, 9} There is no one-type-fits-all treatment that is appropriate for everyone. Addiction treatment should address both your substance use and any other financial, legal, social, and vocational issues.^{8, 9}

There are various treatment options available that range in duration, intensity, and setting. Programs typically provide an individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs that involve a combination of different techniques.^{8, 9} Common treatment settings include:^{8, 9}

• Inpatient/residential treatment: You live at a facility and receive care, monitoring, and support around the clock. Inpatient treatment often has medical staff available, while residential treatment is less intensive and emphasizes peer support.
• Outpatient treatment: You live at home but receive treatment during the day or evenings. This type of care allows you to keep up with responsibilities at home, school, or work. Outpatient treatment can vary in duration and intensity. While some outpatient treatment programs may simply offer drug education, others (e.g., partial-hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs) offer highly structured care, similar to inpatient treatment.

For many people, treatment may begin with detox so they can withdraw from GHB and other substances as comfortably and safely as possible before transitioning to treatment in an inpatient or outpatient setting.³ Following detox, behavioral therapy in a group, individual, or family setting is often used in inpatient and outpatient treatment. Behavioral therapy can help patients learn how to change their attitudes and behaviors related to their drug use while increasing healthy life skills.¹⁰ A person’s treatment plan may also include evaluation and treatment for co-occurring disorders, which can be beneficial if they have a mental health disorder, or another substance use disorder (SUD).⁸

Where Can I Learn More About Treating GHB Addiction?

If you are looking for GHB treatment in the U.S., you have several options, including private rehab facilities, state-run treatment facilities, and local treatment programs.

There are many ways you can find support, including:

• Having an open conversation with your doctor or a mental health practitioner and getting a referral.
• Using our rehabs directory which allows you to filter treatment options by location, treatment types, and accepted insurance.

You can also look at the facilities listed below to see if they provide the program you are looking for:

• California: Laguna Treatment Center
• Florida: Recovery First Treatment Center
• Florida: River Oaks Treatment Center
• Nevada: Desert Hope Treatment Center
• Mississippi: Oxford Treatment Center
• Texas: Greenhouse Treatment Center

Does Insurance Cover GHB Addiction Rehabs?

For those who have insurance, using health insurance to pay for rehab should cover at least some of the cost of addiction treatment. Depending on your individual insurance plan, treatment at a specific facility may or may not be covered. It’s important that you know what is covered prior to attending a rehab. Use the free online insurance coverage checker tool below to find out if your health insurance provides coverage for addiction rehab and other rehabilitation treatment plans for substance abuse recovery.

Coverage may vary depending on your needs and insurance plan. To find out if your policy covers rehab, click here, or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential. You can also click here to find a rehab near me.

American Addiction Centers maintains a strong partnership with a large group of insurance companies at our addiction treatment facilities. Start the journey to recovery and find out instantly using the form below if your health insurance provider may be able to cover all or part of the cost of rehab and associated therapies.