High mortality rates among GHB abusers in Western Sweden

Knudsen, Kai; Greter, Joachim; Verdicchio, Mario

doi:10.1080/15563650701263633

Cited by 57 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Knudsen et al reported an amphetamine-related mortality rate of 12.3% among γ-hydroxybutyrate poisoning cases in Sweden. 18 Troponin I and CK-MB levels were very high among amphetamine users in the present study, indicating cardiac damage; these findings were consistent with those of various previously published research. [19][20][21][22] In a case report, Khattab et al described a 54-year-old man with chest pains after amphetamine use, increased troponin I and CK-MB levels and complete obstruction of the left circumflex coronary artery due to acute thrombosis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Cardiovascular Complications of Acute Amphetamine Abuse: Cross-sectional study

Bazmi

Mousavi

Giahchin

et al. 2017

SQUMJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Cardiovascular Complications of Acute Amphetamine Abuse: Cross-sectional study

Bazmi

Mousavi

Giahchin

et al. 2017

SQUMJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…GHB is a fast acting CNS depressant, which first appeared on the drug-scene in Sweden in 1995 [21]. Compared with many other recreational drugs, such as cannabis and ecstasy, use and abuse of GHB has higher acute toxicity and bigger risk of overdose and mortality [2,22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving under the influence of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

Jones

Holmgren

Kugelberg

2008

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We used an in-house forensic toxicology database (TOXBASE) to evaluate the occurrences of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in blood samples from people arrested in Sweden for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) between 1998 and 2007. Age, gender, and concentrations of GHB in blood were compared and contrasted when GHB was the only drug present and when it occurred along with other drugs. GHB was determined in blood by gas chromatography (GC) after conversion to gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and analysis of the latter with a flame ionization detector. The cut-off concentration of GHB in blood for reporting a positive result was 8 mg/l, which served as limit of quantitation. The mean and median GHB concentrations were 89 mg/l and 82 mg/l, respectively (2(1/2) and 97(1/2) percentiles 12 and 220 mg/l) in 548 arrested drivers. These individuals were predominantly men (95%) with an average age of 26 +/- 5.5 years (range 15-50 years) and women (5%) were several years older with an average age of 32 +/- 8.0 years (range 19-47). There were 102 individuals (29%) who were arrested more than once with GHB in blood (average approximately 3 times per person) and one as many as 10 times. GHB was the only psychoactive substance detected in 215 cases (39%) at mean and median blood-concentrations of 91 mg/l and 83 mg/l, respectively. These concentrations were not significantly different from poly-drug users. A weak but statistically significant correlation existed between the concentration of GHB in blood and the person's age (N = 548, r = 0.135, P < 0.01). The signs of drug influence noted by arresting police officers included sedation, agitation, unsteady gait, slurred speech, irrational behavior, jerky body movements, dilated pupils, and spitting. The blood concentrations reported here are probably appreciably less than at time of driving (30-90 min earlier) owing to the short elimination half-life of GHB (t ((1/2)) = 30-40 min).

show abstract

“…The first GHB-related deaths in Sweden occurred in 2000 [15], and abuse of this substance has led to many acute poisonings that require emergency hospital treatment [16]. Driving under the influence of GHB is also well documented in Sweden with roughly 50-60 cases per year sent by the police for toxicological analysis [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic toxicology findings in deaths involving gamma-hydroxybutyrate

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concentrations of the illicit drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) were determined in femoral venous blood and urine obtained at autopsy in a series of GHB-related deaths (N = 49). The analysis of GHB was done by gas chromatography after conversion to gamma-butyrolactone and quantitation of the latter with a flame ionization detector. The cutoff concentration of GHB in femoral blood or urine for reporting positive results was 30 mg/L. The deceased were mainly young men (86%) aged 26.5 +/- 7.2 years (mean +/- SD), and the women (14%) were about 5 years younger at 21.4 +/- 5.0 years. The mean, median, and highest concentrations of GHB in femoral blood (N = 37) were 294, 190, and 2,200 mg/L, respectively. The mean urine-to-blood ratio of GHB was 8.8, and the median was 5.2 (N = 28). In 12 cases, the concentrations of GHB in blood were negative (<30 mg/L) when the urine contained 350 mg/L on average (range 31-1,100 mg/L). Considerable poly-drug use was evident in these GHB-related deaths: ethanol (18 cases), amphetamine (12 cases), and various prescription medications (benzodizepines, opiates, and antidepressants) in other cases. Interpreting the concentrations of GHB in postmortem blood is complicated because of concomitant use of other psychoactive substances, variable degree of tolerance to centrally acting drugs, and the lack of reliable information about survival time after use of the drug.

show abstract

High mortality rates among GHB abusers in Western Sweden

Abstract: Intoxication by GHB has substantial morbidity and abuse of GHB has substantial mortality. The acute prognosis is good but long-term prognosis is insecure with an increased risk for drug dependency and an early death.

Cited by 57 publications

References 15 publications

Cardiovascular Complications of Acute Amphetamine Abuse: Cross-sectional study

Cardiovascular Complications of Acute Amphetamine Abuse: Cross-sectional study

Driving under the influence of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

Forensic toxicology findings in deaths involving gamma-hydroxybutyrate

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About