'A fine line between euphoria and death': a qualitative study exploring gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use among people who identify as heterosexual living in Australia.
Harm reduction journal February 6, 2026 Keaton Hudson-Buhagiar, Jonathan Brett, Alanah Spillane et al. 1 citation
Among heterosexual Australians who use GHB, three patterns of use—occasional, regular, or daily—emerged. Four key themes were identified: escapism (managing mental health symptoms, enhancing confidence, facilitating sex, and alleviating body consciousness in women); diverse understandings of overdose, including intentional dosing to achieve unconsciousness and misconceptions about using stimulants to counter toxicity, with fear of police delaying help-seeking; stigma from both drug-using and non-using peers; and gendered harm reduction practices where women protect each other from harms, especially sexual violence. Findings point to gaps in public health education on overdose management and intentional risk-taking.