GHB Use Rises Among Young Professionals, Blurring Lines Between Nightlife and Risk

A growing number of young professionals are turning to gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, for recreation on nights out, a trend that journalists and health researchers say challenges long-standing warnings about the substance’s dangers. The drug, which is illegal in many places when used recreationally, is increasingly being used by people in white-collar jobs who describe it as a way to extend energy, suppress social anxiety, and sustain long nights of partying. A first-person account provided for this report offers a rare glimpse into why some young adults, including those with university degrees and steady careers, are choosing GHB over more familiar substances.

GHB is a depressant that is supplied as a clear, odorless liquid. In typical club or party settings, users often add a few drops to water or a soft drink. It is extremely dangerous to mix with alcohol or other depressants, such as ketamine, because the combination can slow the heart and breathing to dangerous levels. Even a small miscalculation in dosing can lead to unconsciousness, coma, or death. In the United Kingdom, GHB is a Class B drug, and possessing or distributing it can carry legal consequences beyond the health risks.

The story is told by a 26-year-old who identifies herself only as Clarisa Fennimore and is described in the piece as speaking to a reporter on the condition of anonymity. She says she earned a degree from a Russell Group university and now works in accounting. She says she began using GHB after exposure to club scenes where the substance was widely available, despite its reputation for causing fainting, unpredictable behavior, and, in severe cases, death. She notes that the drug has been used for years in some communities to enhance sexual experiences, but she emphasizes that it remains illegal to use recreationally and that she and many of her friends are aware of the legal and safety risks involved.

For Fennimore, the motivation to try GHB came from a desire to feel calm, more sociable, and less self-conscious in social settings. She describes the initial experience as pleasantly warming and energizing: a sense of being “warm and fuzzy, calm and switched on, chatty and friendly.” She stresses that, when used in small, controlled doses, GHB seemed to maintain some awareness and decision-making while reducing anxiety and social inhibition. “I don’t like how I feel or act when drinking alcohol,” she explains, adding that GHB offered her a different way to engage with friends without feeling out of control. She notes, too, that the drug is cheaper than alcohol and that some users report longer-lasting stamina for partying.

In her account, GHB’s appeal for some users includes a reduction in the crash that often follows heavy drinking. Yet the downsides are clear and severe. She recalls seeing people “falling asleep while standing up” or “passed out in nightclubs,” sometimes with little warning. In one especially frightening episode, a close friend accidentally took a double dose, becoming non-verbal and then unconscious. The author describes dragging the friend away from the crowd, struggling to call for help with poor phone signal, and waiting for two hours as the situation felt “like an eternity.” Such moments reinforce why dosing is a high-stakes matter and why many users work hard to keep intake low and time gaps between doses.

GHB is a depressant, which means it can slow the heart rate and breathing. The danger multiplies when it is mixed with alcohol or other sedatives. Health authorities warn that even a single alcoholic drink alongside GHB can be deadly, and public health data show a sobering tally of fatalities linked to the substance. Office for National Statistics figures indicate there were 241 deaths in England and Wales in 2022 where a new psychoactive substance, including GHB, was recorded on the death certificate. The data likely undercount fatalities because post-mMortem testing for GHB is not routine and the drug leaves the body quickly. The scope of harm extends beyond fatalities: long-term use can cause throat irritation or damage to the voice box, and some users report persistent hoarseness or other voice changes after sustained use.

The piece notes there is an active safety culture among some GHB users. A popular app is used to log doses and track timing, helping to reduce the risk of overdose by providing a reminder for when it is “safe” to dose again. The author also highlights practical cautions: GHB is a potent chemical that can irritate skin on contact, risks that are amplified if the chemical is mishandled or spilled. In her narrative, she emphasizes that even careful users can face dangerous consequences and that the drug can amplify the effects of other substances: taking G in combination with alcohol or other depressants can lead to dangerous respiratory depression or death.

Beyond individual risk, the account touches on the broader social dimension of GHB use. The author notes the drug’s historical links to different communities and the reputations and stereotypes that surround it. In particular, she mentions that GHB gained traction in some gay nightlife circles before spreading into wider social scenes, warning that dangerous criminal cases associated with the drug have occurred in the past. The account cites examples of serious crimes linked to GHB, including the high-profile cases of offenders who used the drug to commit sexual violence, to illustrate the real-world stakes involved in its use.

Health experts caution that dependence and withdrawal are real possibilities. While the author asserts that she does not feel addicted and does not use G every day, she acknowledges that dependence can develop and that withdrawal should be managed with medical supervision. The piece emphasizes that people should approach reports of individual experiences like hers with caution, recognizing that what works for one user may be dangerous for another. Medical professionals stress that the safest course is to avoid use altogether, or to seek help for those who struggle to stop.

The account ends on a mixed note. The author says she intends to view her experience as a phase rather than a permanent lifestyle choice and claims she could stop at any time. Still, she is candid about the legal and health risks she is taking and recognizes that her behavior could have severe consequences for herself and others around her. The report frames her story not as endorsement but as a case study illustrating why some individuals, even those with professional credentials and social status, are drawn to GHB despite the risks.

Public health researchers say the increase in recreational GHB use among younger, more affluent adults is a development that warrants careful monitoring. While pharmacological blogs and nightclub scenes may sometimes glamorize such use, clinicians warn that GHB carries unpredictable effects that can vary from dose to dose and from person to person. The drug’s rapid onset, narrow therapeutic window, and potential for dangerous interactions mean that the margin for error is slim for anyone experimenting with it.

As the conversation about drug use continues, health officials stress the importance of harm-reduction messaging that acknowledges real-world behaviors while conserving primary emphasis on safety and legality. The experiences described in this account highlight a tension between personal experimentation and public health risk, and they underscore the ongoing need for prevention, treatment resources, and clear information about the dangers of GHB. For any reader who might be considering GHB or who is concerned about someone they know, experts recommend seeking confidential guidance from healthcare providers or local poison-control resources rather than relying on anecdotal accounts or self-assessed safety strategies.

AS TOLD TO LARA OLSZOWSKA