High mortality rates among GHB abusers in Western Sweden.

Background: GHB is a drug of abuse and acute poisonings have been an increasing medical problem over the last decade in Sweden.

Objectives: To document all cases of GHB poisonings in Gothenburg during 1995-2004 and to record drug-related deaths to compare the toxicity of GHB with other illicit drugs, such as heroin and amphetamine.

Methods: The number of GHB-poisoned patients treated at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital has been recorded with the help of an in-house database.

[GHB, GBL and butanediol poisonings--a serious problem in Western Sweden].

Acute poisoning with GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) has been an increasing medical and social problem during the last decade in Sweden, especially on the west coast. The number of poisonings decreased in the beginning of this millennium but has again increased during the last years. At the same time the number of seizures by the police has increased similarly as well as the number of drug-related deaths.