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Comparative Study
. 2004 Sep 20;181(6):310-3.
doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06295.x.

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

David G E Caldicott  1 , Fiona Y Chow, Brian J Burns, Peter D Felgate, Roger W Byard
Affiliations
Comparative Study

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

David G E Caldicott et al. Med J Aust. .

Abstract

Objective: To identify deaths in Australasia associated with overdose of gamma-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.

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