GHB USE AND ABUSE SOARS IN GEELONG:
GHB-RELATED harm and use is on the rise, with experts blaming the coronavirus pandemic for the increasing popularity of the cheap and easily accessible drug.
Alcohol and drug experts say the rise in gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been fuelled by the pandemic after global border closures led to shortages of other illicit drugs such as ice.
Turning Point data shows 78 GHB-related ambulance attendances in Greater Geelong last financial year, up from just 28 the year prior.
Barwon Health emergency physician Belinda Hibble said the slow onset of newer forms of GHB circulating in Geelong was leading users to double or triple their dosage, increasing the risk of life-threatening overdose.
“Illicit drug use is an ongoing issue in the Geelong community and we have observed more people seeking emergency treatment after using synthetic drugs over the past year,” Dr Hibble said.
“Synthetic drugs such as GHB can be stronger and more unpredictable than other forms of substance abuse, and patients often have little understanding of their associated risks.”
Crime statistics agency data found 24 offences for trafficking and dealing GHB recorded in Greater Geelong in the 12 months to September last year, up from 11 offences the year before. Possession of GHB rose from 35 to 69 in the same period.
Geelong Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Pucar said GHB was becoming a drug of choice for traffickers and users.
“An increase in GHB trafficking and possession offences is partly attributable to the pandemic resulting in a price increase in other drugs types frequently used by local offenders,” he said.
“GHB is more readily available and also cheaper, which made it an attractive option for local traffickers and users.”
But Sergeant Pucar said the danger of GHB, which is found in many cleaning products, should not be underestimated. “We will continue to focus on the drugs causing the most harm within our community by arresting and prosecuting street-level dealers, while disrupting the drug networks profiting off the misery of others,” he said.
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondo said the organisation had received anecdotal reports from member organisations of a rise in GHB use and harm during the coronavirus lockdown.
“That has been quite concerning,” Mr Biondo said.
“It can be quite a dangerous substance if not used in an exacting way. The difference between life and death could be a very, very tiny quantity.”
Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said the drug could be bought for as little as $2.
“The increases in GHB ambulance attendances and GHB possession offences in Geelong shows that this drug is becoming more prevalent,” he said.
Dr Hibble said patients who overdosed on GHB could have difficulty breathing and require a ventilator. She said this was more likely if patients used other drugs while taking GHB, including alcohol.