GHB Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a medical condition that responds to professional medical care. Here, we present THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO GHB ADDICTION PROGRAMS. We’ll present you a rounded view of recovery options…so you can quit GHB for good! More here.

10
minute read

Need Help With GHB?

There are safe ways to QUIT GHB. With medical care, you can go through detox and then address why you use drugs … in a safe and comfortable environment.

Here, we review science based treatments for drug problems. We’ll let you know what you can expect from treatment and how to prepare. We even have a section for families at the end that guides you on how to help a loved one who’s been using GHB. Finally, we invite your questions at the end. In fact, we try to respond to all real life comments with a personal and prompt reply.

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Are You Ready to Quit GHB?
Call 1-877-978-3041 for help quitting GHB for good.
We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Start Living the Life that You Deserve!
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How is GHB used?

GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is used medically for:

  1. Procedures requiring an anesthetized patient.
  2. Chronic pain patients, or Fibromyalgia patients to help manage pain.
  3. Treating narcolepsy and, on rare occasions, alcoholism.

However, GHB can also be (ab)used in a number of ways and for different reasons, such as:

  • By fitness fanatics for its supposed effects that mimic other anabolic steroid.
  • Recreationally for its effects similar to that of ecstasy and alcohol.
  • To induce a sense of calm, relieve anxiety and promote relaxation.
  • To feel euphoria and decrease inhibitions.
  • As a date rape drug due to its ability to sedate victims (mixed with alcohol).

What makes GHB even more dangerous is its capacity to get users ‘hooked’ on the drug. Medical assistance is recommended for people who are under the influence or attempting to recover from GHB abuse, especially because it’s commonly taken with other drugs and alcohol.

Is GHB Addictive?

Yes, GHB is addictive.

If you think that GHB is a totally safe, benign, non-addictive drug…this is simply not true!

Contrary to the misinformation, GHB is – in fact – addictive. When you develop dependence on GHB after regular use, it manifests a withdrawal syndrome that can last for weeks and brings on potentially severe symptoms. What’s more, when GHB is taken chronically and for an extended period of time, the symptoms may be much more severe and may even lead to coma, seizures, and even death.

But, how can you know when you have come to the point that you require help for a progressing habit? How is recreational GHB use different than addiction?

You might be at risk of GHB addiction when you:

  1. Experience psychological and mood changes because of GHB use.
  2. Have obsessive thoughts about the next GHB dosage.
  3. Spend a lot of time recovering from the exhaustion, irritability, and dysphoria that follow GHB use.
  4. Experience frequent  digestive problems, such as diarrhea, as a result of drug use.
  5. Have frequent bouts of sleepwalking.
  6. Try to cut back or quit GHB but to no avail.
  7. GHB use has a negative impact on your family, work, school, health, and financial situation.
  8. Friends and family complain about your mood and other behavior changes.
  9. Develop symptoms of withdrawal when you try to quit taking GHB.

If you recognize some of the following signs of addiction in yourself or a loved one, don’t panic. Addiction treatment programs can help you get your life back on track.

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Call 1-877-978-3041 to start recovery from GHB addiction.
Hotline advisors await your call day-and-night.

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Safely Breaking Free From GHB Addiction

Treatment for GHB addiction involves a multidisciplinary approach that consists of:

  • Medical Detoxification
  • Psychotherapy and Behavioral Therapy
  • Help from medical professionals
  • The support of family and friends

Pharmacological therapy (prescription medicines) may also be prescribed in the form of short-term benzodiazepine prescription to control seizures, along with antipsychotics for episodes of psychosis and other medications including those for high blood pressure.

Q: What is the right mix of therapies to help YOU safely quit GHB?
A: It depends on what you need from treatment.

The BEST and SAFEST course of treatment for GHB addiction can be provided through a tailor-made rehabilitation program. For this, you need to find a reputable rehab treatment center that offers individualized treatment plans that take your needs, current condition, personal preferences and individual goals into account. Individualized treatment will determine treatment settings, duration, and therapies that can work best for you …after consultation with an addiction doctor or treatment provider.

When you need addiction treatment there are many resources you can use to break free from GHB addiction. Call 1-877-978-3041 TODAY to speak with one our addiction specialists and find a match for your individual treatment needs.

Fear of GHB Withdrawal: What’s the Process Like?

Withdrawal symptoms from GHB vary in severity and intensity. This variation depends mainly on the amount of the drug you usually take and how long you’ve been (ab)using it. Withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • anxiety
  • agitation
  • delirium
  • delirium
  • excessive sweating
  • hallucinations
  • hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • increased heart rate and chest pains
  • muscle and bone pains
  • nausea
  • psychosis
  • restlessness
  • tremors
  • vomiting

The hard cold reality is that GHB withdrawal syndrome is:

  1. Potentially severe.
  2. Should NOT be attempted “cold turkey” or without the help of medical professionals.
  3. Difficult to do by tapering doses down (weaning keeps you on edge too long to tolerate).
  4. Usually lasts 10-14 days.

The best way to go through GHB withdrawal safely and successfully is via medical detoxification and 24-7 supervision. But, you also need to be extra cautious when seeking detox and withdrawal help from clinics and treatment facilities. You want to find one that specializes or has experience treating GHB withdrawal syndrome. Going to a “regular drug detox” program without a doctor specifically experienced with GHB can be dangerous.

CALL 1-877-978-3041 NOW for specialized GHB withdrawal treatment options.

What Are the Stages of GHB Treatment?

GHB abuse and addiction treatment is completed in four (4) steps. But, before you can set out on your journey of recovery you first need to:

1. Break out of denial. Nobody wants to be perceived as ‘an addict’. But, accepting that you have a problem with GHB that requires professional medical assistance to be resolved is the first step towards making a lasting change.

2. Get treatment. When you make the decision to seek help, you will need to find the right treatment program that offers GHB detox, therapy and counseling. Our hotline at 1-877-978-3041 is a FREE and Confidential line where you talk to a trained recovery specialist and determine the next steps of your recovery.

Then come the next stages of GHB treatment…

Stage #1 of GHB Treatment: INTAKE ASSESSMENT

GHB addiction treatment begins with an initial medical exam to determine your physical and psychological condition. During intake, you will be evaluated by licensed practitioners that specialize in chemical addiction and substance abuse. The process usually involves a standard questionnaire, an interview, a physical exam, and drug testing. The results from this assessment are then used to set up a diagnosis, chart your drug use history, outline the course of your personalized treatment program, and to ensure a safe and comfortable recovery.

Stage #2 of GHB Treatment: MEDICAL DETOXIFICATION

Medical detox is one of the most crucial steps of the addiction treatment process from GHB addiction. Detoxification of your body from this drug is performed WITH:

  1. Proper medications such as antipsychotic medications and/or benzodiazepines to help lessen some of the more serious withdrawal symptoms.
  2. Round-the-clock monitoring from doctors and nurses who can address any complications that may arise.
  3. Physical and psychological support…as opposed to “toughing it out” by going off the drug suddenly and abruptly.

Stage #3 of GHB Treatment: TREATMENT PROGRAMS ENGAGEMENT

Once the detoxification is over, you will need a period of time in rehab to help reset your lifestyle, regain balance, get to the root causes of your addiction. A combination of Medical Assisted Treatment and Psychotherapy work together to help you adopt new behaviors that don’t involve GHB use.

Inpatient treatment programs include a residential stay at the facility for the duration of your GHB addiction treatment. They offer structured therapy and 24/7 supervision by professionals trained in helping people overcome the physical and psychological implications of their problem. In addition, inpatient programs focus intensely on the inner work of identifying thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that are the root causes of your addiction. Individual and group counseling is intense and works to help you evolve new behaviors for coping with life.

Various therapies that may be offered, include:

Education.
Family Therapy.
Individual and Group Therapy Sessions.
Medication Assisted Treatment.
Support Group Attendance.
Nutritional Counseling.
Wellness Activities.

…and many other therapies that fall under the alternative or holistic spectrum such as art therapy, EMDR, equine therapy, or yoga therapy.

Outpatient treatment centers usually takes place several hours weekly or several hours per day, every day…but it’s really not for everyone. This type of treatment is often offered as an option for people who need to continue their treatment program after the residential part of rehab is over. GHB can be extremely addictive and very hard to quit and not relapse, especially in severe cases. For this reason, outpatient rehab is not typically suggested as an effective treatment setting for GHB addiction.

Stage #4 of GHB Treatment: AFTERCARE PROGRAMS

When your formal treatment program for GHB addiction is complete, you usually receive a comprehensive aftercare plan that includes continued visitations with your treatment center counselor. Aftercare often includes relapse prevention training and can significantly increase your chances of rehab success.

What happens when you call our hotline?

A reputable recovery hotline is a safe and confidential line where you can access the information you need to help yourself or a loved one. Our hotline is:

FREE – You can dial for toll-free help.
Confidential – No personal information can be released or used outside of the conversation.
Anonymous – You don’t have to discuss anything outside of what’s needed.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – Help is available all year round.
Judgement-free – Hotline staffers view addiction as a medical condition and provide support without judgment.

When you CALL 1-877-978-3041, we’ll listen. Then, we’ll work to get you the help you need. You can talk openly and honestly about:

Your drug of choice.
How long you’ve been using.
How much and how often you use.
Whether or not you’re drinking or using other drugs.
Other mental health issues you’re battling.

Most importantly, our hotline staffers know how to listen. They understand what you are going through and will offer strategies and information about treatment services that can best help you. So, why wait? Call TODAY to find the best treatment program for your needs, location and budget.

How to Help a Loved one with GHB Addiction

Do you suspect – or know for a fact – that someone you love is struggling with GHB addiction?

We’re here to offer you some real advice. Help doesn’t come in the form of persuading, arguing, or forcing someone to get help. This approach won’t work…it almost never does. A person will only accept treatment and get better when they THEMSELVES decide to make a change.

As an alternative to pressuring and arguing, you can emphasize personal choice and control in order to motivate your loved one to accept help by saying things, such as:

“It really is up to you to decide to quit GHB and make this change.”
“No one else can do it for you.”
“We are not going to make you go to a rehab treatment program. It’s your ultimate choice”

A person who “buys in” to the treatment process is more likely to experience success in recovery.  Still, it is very important for individuals who abuse GHB to get professional help from a psychotherapist or treatment center as soon as possible. You can call 1-877-978-3041 NOW to assess and evaluate a loved one’s problem, and to get information about rehab and treatment program options. We’ll ask the following:

  1. How does the person (ab)use GHB?
  2. How long they’ve been showing signs of addiction?
  3. What other drugs or alcohol do you think they’re using?
  4. How long do you suspect they have been using?
  5. How much can they afford to pay for treatment?
  6. Is insurance an option?
  7. Could you (and/or other close family members) help them out financially?
  8. Does the addicted individual suffer from any mental, behavioral, or co-occurring disorders?

Once you get help for your loved one…it’s important to seek help for yourself too. You can get and give support in navigating the difficulties that arise from a loved one’s addiction by engaging in:

  • Family Therapy
  • Support groups like Al-Anon or Nar-Anon
  • Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)

During support therapies and sessions, you will learn the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with your addicted loved one. You will also practice new and positive ways to show support and encouragement instead of enabling their addiction.

Ongoing Treatment and Relapse Prevention

Aftercare is an important step that occurs in the weeks and months after formal GHB treatment. Rehabs that follow industry best practices create an aftercare and relapse prevention plan based on your unique challenges in life. Frequently recommended aftercare options include:

  • Support group or 12-step meetings
  • Sober living homes
  • Ongoing group and/or individual counseling
  • Rehab alumni groups
  • Weekly check-ins (by phone, Skype, or in person)

Relapse prevention coaching is also a part of the discharge process. It include straining and education on techniques such as:

  1. Addressing pleasant memories of GHB use.
  2. Coaching in addressing slips.
  3. Developing a lifestyle that’s protective of your sobriety.
  4. Developing coping skills and stress-management skills.
  5. Identifying warning signs and high-risk situations.

These elements, along with your motivation to stay addiction-free will help you stay involved with the sobriety community, and prompt you to continue to work on your recovery, so you don’t slip back into destructive habits.

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Ready to change your life for the better?
Call us at 1-877-978-3041 NOW!
Our treatment admissions specialists are waiting for you.

Reference Sources: Idaho ICDV: GHB Addiction & Withdrawal Syndrome 
NCBI: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: an emerging drug of abuse that causes physical dependence
SAMHSA: Treatments for Substance Use Disorders
NIH: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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