GHB Addiction Treatment Programs

People who are addicted to the sedative drug gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, often find it difficult to quit, especially since the drug causes both physical and psychological addiction. GHB addiction treatment presents some challenges, but users of this drug often respond well to an organized program of treatment.

Recognizing the need for treatment

Many people who take GHB do so in social circumstances, so the drug use is intimately tied into inclusion within the user’s social group. However, this doesn’t mean that the use of GHB is safe or under control. Signs you are addicted to GHB include cravings for the drug, relying on the drug for social interactions, and encountering financial difficulties due to your drug use. Because GHB users can develop tolerance to the drug over time, you might notice that it is becoming more and more difficult to get high and that you need higher or more frequent doses to get the same effect that lower doses used to give you. Many GHB users also notice the deterioration of close relationships as a result of their drug use, especially relationships with people who do not use GHB. Frequent GHB use may also interfere with success at work or school. In some cases, a major event prompts a user to seek GHB addiction treatment. This may occur after an overdose of GHB that sends the user to the emergency room, a situation that often prompts friends and family to encourage intervention and frightens the user into realizing the seriousness of his or her drug use.

Help for GHB addicts

While halting GHB use on your own can be difficult, help is available for those who want to quit. GHB addiction treatment is most frequently done on an inpatient basis at a residential clinic, but outpatient services may also be an option for some people. The initial withdrawal from GHB can be uncomfortable or even dangerous, so it should be done under the care of a medical professional. Withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, anxiety, sweating, and tremors. In some cases, hallucinations, delusions, high blood pressure, muscle cramps, paranoia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and delirium can also occur during withdrawal. If you or someone you know needs more information about halting GHB use, call our free helpline at 1-800-660-0986 or fill out our short contact form to learn about effective treatment options.

The treatment process

In most cases, GHB addiction treatment involves a detoxification period followed by a series of individual and group counseling sessions. During these counseling sessions, the user learns to avoid the behaviors that led to the drug abuse and how to substitute alternative activities in place of GHB use. Because this drug is commonly used at parties and clubs, the user might need to stay away from places he or she used to frequent in order to avoid temptation that could lead to a relapse. In some cases, the recovering addict may need to sever friendships with other heavy drug users in order to successfully complete his or her GHB addiction treatment program.