THE HSE HAS confirmed that 15 people have been discharged from Irish hospitals after overdosing on chemsex drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, more commonly known as G.
Latest hospital in-patient enquiry figures (HIPE) showed that 15 people have overdosed on the drug in the last two years but medics believe that number to be much higher.
HIPE figures include day patients and in-patients. They do not collect emergency department or outpatient figures. The vast majority of overdoses, according to doctors, are dealt with in emergency departments.
According to the HSE, there has been an interest in these drugs because of their association with the issue of ‘chemsex’ within the MSM (men who have sex with men) population but some anecdotal information suggests that this may have spread to the broader clubbing scene.
The numbers presenting to hospital are difficult to gauge as routine drug testing does not pick up this substance and it has to be specifically requested.
The HSE’s addiction services plan on engaging with emergency departments next year to raise awareness of this issue and have done a number of training sessions with addiction and sexual health services already.
Source: Garreth MacNamee and Órla Ryan, The Journal, 12th December 2018
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