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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2007, 09, 1 (pages: 55 - 76)

Use of Sodium Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in Alcoholic Heroin Addicts and Polydrug-Abusers

Maremmani I., Pacini M.

Summary: Sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in one of the most effective options available for the treatment of hard-core alcoholism in maintenance programmes that aim to achieve relapse prevention and rehabilitation. Polysubstance abuse and multiple addiction have become quite common in alcoholic youths and former heroin addicts receiving inadequate or no specific treatment. In approaching these categories, GHB is usually neglected, on the basis of the idea that its abuse potential must be amplified in abuse-prone individuals. However, the normalizing effects of anticraving treatment on the behaviour of heroin addicts may make GHB a suitable remedy for the heroin-alcohol polyabuse picture. The same cannot be said of cocaine abusers, due to the lack of anticraving treatments possessing major, reliable effectiveness. After reviewing the data in the literature on the use of GHB in alcoholics and other kinds of abusers, we describe 13 cases of alcohol-abusing heroin addicts, in which GHB proved to possess some effectiveness, even if there were major limitations regarding compliance and completeness of response.