Party Drug GHB Causing More Harm in Australia
10 Feb 2026
GPs can play a key role in helping people stay safe and reducing further risk.
A study by UNSW Sydney’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) shows that while fewer people use GHB compared with drugs like MDMA, methamphetamine, or cocaine, its popularity is growing.
GHB is usually taken at parties in liquid form. It has a very small safe dose — too little does nothing, but too much can make a person unconscious.
The research found GHB-related deaths rose from under six in 2012 to 52 in 2022. Hospitalisations more than tripled over the same time. Surveys from 2013 to 2024 show lifetime use increased from 0.9% to 1.2%, and past-year use went from 0.07% to 0.2%. Treatment episodes where GHB was the main drug of concern also went up.
Associate Professor Amy Peacock, lead author, said the rise in harm is “a cause for alarm,” and even infrequent use can be risky.
Dr Hester Wilson, RACGP Addiction Medicine Chair, said GPs are important for follow-up care. Many people leave the hospital after a GHB overdose without support, so if a GP gets the discharge summary, they can talk about safety and harm reduction.
Dr Wilson stressed the importance of open, non-judgemental conversations. “People don’t want to be harmed, they just want to have a good time. GPs can help them make safer choices,” she said.
Some drug-testing programs exist at festivals, but GHB is hard to test because it’s liquid and varies in strength. There have also been cases where GHB was mixed with dangerous substances like pure methamphetamine, raising the risk of overdose.
NDARC researchers call for stronger monitoring, prevention programs, and education on recognising and responding to GHB overdoses. Dr Wilson added, “Supporting patients doesn’t mean knowing everything about drugs. It means giving good information and helping people make safer choices. GPs are part of their communities and can help keep patients safe.”
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: NDARC, UNSW Sydney
