title: GHB and driving impairment.
abstract: Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) was identified in the blood of 13 subjects arrested for impaired driving. GHB concentrations ranged from 26 to 155 mg/L (mean 87 mg/L, median 95 mg/L). In eight cases, GHB was the only drug detected, and signs of impairment were consistent with those of a CNS depressant, including erratic driving (weaving, swerving, ignoring road signs), confusion, incoherent speech, unresponsiveness, lack of balance, unsteady coordination, poor performances on field sobriety tests, and varying states of wakefulness. Given the ability of GHB to induce sleep and unconsciousness, it is evident from these cases that recreational use of the drug has the potential to impair a person's driving ability.
authors.affiliation: Washington State Toxicology Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle 89134, USA. fcouper@wsp.wa.gov
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Couper
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Logan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012890:Sleep; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014474:Unconsciousness
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D012978:Sodium Oxybate