Gamma-Hydroxybuttersäure(GHB) / Liquid Ecstasy – Aussagekraft von GHB–Konzentrationen beim Menschen (English shop)

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Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is detectable as an endogenous compound in human blood and urine. This short-chain fatty acid is a structural analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid.

GHB is used as a medicinal product, among other things as a narcotic agent. The substance has euphoriant and mildly intoxicating effects.

However, GHB is also subject to abuse and is relatively easy to obtain. In liquid form, known as Liquid Ecstasy, GHB is used by perpetrators to prepare sexual assaults; the colourless and odourless substance is counted among the knock-out drugs.

In toxicological investigations, particularly in forensically relevant questions, it is therefore crucial to be able to distinguish between endogenous GHB concentrations and GHB concentrations resulting from the ingestion/administration of GHB.

The present work aims to contribute to the assessment of the evidential value of GHB concentrations and of the proposed cut-off values with regard to this question. Following an overview of the current literature, cases involving GHB are presented. Factors influencing GHB concentrations are identified, and the post-mortem formation of GHB, the occurrence of endogenous GHB and cut-off values for endogenous GHB in blood and urine are discussed. Finally, the evidential value of GHB concentrations and the proposed cut-off values are assessed.