Fatalities associated with the use of γ-hydroxybutyrate and its analogues in Australasia

Objective: To identify deaths in Australasia associated with overdose of hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursors (gamma-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol). Design: A retrospective search of medical and scientific information sources, as well as popular newsprint, for the period January 2000 - August 2003, with formal clinical, toxicological and forensic evaluation of retrieved data. Main outcome measure: Death associated with forensic data implicating GHB or its analogues. Results: Ten confirmed GHB-associated deaths were identified, with eight considered to be directly attributable to GHB. Only two of these eight cases were positive for ethanol toxicology. Conclusions: Our study supports the existing evidence that GHB overdose is associated with fatalities, and that fatal overdoses occur in the context of isolated use.