The first UK GBL death

affiche-ghb-gbl-forumThe Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has released a report of the first UK death from the Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) precursor Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL) on the same day it became a scheduled substance in the country. In 2008 a 25-year old man died after taking the drug while in a night club. There were no traces of alcohol or any other drugs in his blood.

GBL was already outlawed in the US and Canada but had managed to slip through the net in the UK for some time despite the fact that GHB was prohibited in 2003. GHB can have both stimulatory and sedative effects but in recent times has become fairly infamous as a ‘date rape’ drug. It has been known by bodybuilders for a long time as it is a means to induce a buzz without the calories of, say, alcohol.

Source: Dargan PI, Button J, Davies S, Ramsey J, George S, Holt DW, Wood DM. The first reported UK fatality related to gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) ingestion. J R Soc Med. 2009 Dec;102(12):546-7.

About the Author

Matt Cahill has worked extensively in the nutritional supplement field, and is the former CEO of Designer Supplements. During his time in the field has researched and developed prohormones, testosterone boosters, and other related compounds, both for his own company and others.