GBL Addiction | Signs, Symptoms and Effects

Part of the problem with GBL is that it is so difficult for authorities to regulate. While GBL is a Class B drug alongside GHB, it is much easier to ban GHB outright because it has no medical or industrial uses. This is not possible with GBL because it is a necessary component in so many products. Its widespread availability has, therefore, made GBL an easier alternative than GHB for both people looking to get high or to commit crimes.

Addiction to GBL is when your drug use shifts from occasional to constant, and stopping feels impossible even though you can see it is harming you. GBL addiction doesn’t announce itself with a bang – it sneaks up on you, slowly taking control until you are hooked without even noticing.

At first, GBL might feel like it’s helping you relax or feel more confident, but soon, you start taking it to get through the day, and any attempt to stop brings on waves of withdrawal symptoms that can make quitting feel impossible.

But GBL addiction is not just cravings and other physical responses. Drug addiction also has an emotional stranglehold as GBL becomes your crutch for dealing with everything from unresolved trauma to boredom to everyday stress. Once you become both physically and emotionally reliant on GBL, you are in the full throes of GBL addiction.

Both GHB and GBL abuse are common across the UK, and while GBL addiction facts are not easy to ascertain, there were 31 reported deaths in 2022 where the death certificate mentioned GHB. How many of these came from taking GBL is not known, but it is the most recorded fatalities from these substances ever.

Not everyone has the same reaction to GBL abuse – for some, it can be a passing phase, while for others, GBL addiction can take hold fast. The difference boils down to a mixture of factors, including:

Family history

Your risk of GBL addiction increases if there’s a history of substance issues in your family. This is because a predisposition to addiction can be handed down through your genes in the same way as your height or eye colour.

Mental health problems

If you are struggling with your mental health or even just a lot of stress, GBL abuse can seem like an easy way to lift your spirits. However, using GBL to mask your emotions can quickly turn into using it to survive them, and that is where GBL addiction often finds its footing.

Your social group

Hanging out with people already using GBL can make it much easier to start using it yourself. The more GBL is around, the more you might feel like GBL abuse is not a big deal – until it becomes part of your routine.

Availability

The more accessible GBL is, the more tempting it becomes. As GBL is found in so many seemingly innocuous products, it can be very easy to obtain, abuse and become addicted to.

Because of the complex nature of GBL addiction, effective GBL addiction treatment requires a few different phases. Drug detox is usually the first, as it resolves physical dependence and helps you through the withdrawal symptoms explained on this page. At the same time, drug rehab enables you to understand your past history with GBL better so you can plan a future that doesn’t involve it. Once these phases are complete, aftercare services help prevent you from relapsing following your return to everyday life.