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. The number of deaths by illicit drugs was recorded during 2004. Seizures of the drugs GHB, 1,4-butanediol, and GBL were registered between 1996 and 2004.

Results: The number of poisoned patients was 259. The number of seizures with GHB was 743, GBL 343, and 1,4-butanediol 236. In 2004 the number of deaths was 6 with heroin, 7 with GHB, 32 with amphetamine, 6 with cocaine, and one with methadone. One patient with GHB poisoning died during hospital care.

Conclusions: 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.