Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...
Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...
Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...
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The consequences of this condition can vary from respiratory disruption to respiratory<br />
failure. The risks increase if the GHB is taken in combination with alcohol or other<br />
substances such as benzodiazepines.<br />
• Increased tolerance to the drug arising from frequent usage can result in ‘diminishing<br />
returns’, with users consuming more to reach the same effect. This can lead to more<br />
symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, aggressive behaviour, dizziness, bradycardia <strong>and</strong><br />
hypothermia. Higher doses lead to a general feeling of unwellness (Van Sassenbroeck<br />
et al., 2007).<br />
• Various substances have been tested (Kohrs et al., 2004; Zvosec et al., 2007) with a<br />
view to combating the effects of a GHB overdose. These have so far not met with<br />
success. There is no specific antidote. Acute treatment mainly consists of freeing the<br />
respiratory tract <strong>and</strong> monitoring vital functions.<br />
It is difficult to establish GHB as a cause of death. The drug is quickly broken down<br />
in the body <strong>and</strong> is therefore traceable in blood or urine for a short time only (Jones et<br />
al., 2009). In any case, presence of GHB need not be conclusive, because there are<br />
considerable differences in tolerance to the drug. Furthermore, GHB can be formed<br />
in the body after death, which hampers an evaluation of the contribution of GHB to<br />
the cause of death. A further complicating factor is the absence of a specific code for<br />
registering GHB deaths in the Cause of Death statistics.<br />
• In 2008 GHB was cited on four cause-of-death forms with Statistics <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong><br />
(CBS). It is not known whether GHB was the cause of or a contributory factor to<br />
death in these cases.<br />
• Between 2006 <strong>and</strong> mid-2009, there were five deaths in Amsterdam which were<br />
attributed to GHB intoxication. Three of these cases were suicides.<br />
• For 2007, the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong> Forensic Institute reported no fatal cases in which GHB<br />
use was the primary cause of death. In 2008 GHB was the primary cause of death in<br />
one fatality, although Ecstasy (MDMA) was also found. In 2009 (through October)<br />
four cases were known in which GHB was presumed to be the cause of death. In all<br />
these cases alcohol was also involved, <strong>and</strong> in one case there were other substances<br />
too. One case was thought to be a suicide.<br />
6.8 Supply <strong>and</strong> market<br />
Composition of GHB<br />
The <strong>Drug</strong>s Information <strong>and</strong> <strong>Monitor</strong>ing System (DIMS) monitors the market for illegal<br />
drugs. To this end it makes use of analyses of substances present in drug samples submitted<br />
by users in addiction care centres. Some of these samples (tablets) are identified by the<br />
treatment centre itself. Samples are forwarded to the laboratory for chemical analysis.<br />
• In 2008, 214 liquid samples were submitted, which had been purchased as GHB<br />
(DIMS annual report, 2008).<br />
6 GHB<br />
141