Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, gamma-butyrolactone, and 1,4-butanediol addiction: a serious health threat

[...]its reputation of a rape drug (4, 5). The development of hyphenated analytical techniques (17, 18) such as ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) is therefore crucial if we want to be able to identify GHB and its precursors in conventional and unconventional biological matrices, bearing in mind the current proposed cut-offs to distinguish between endogenous and exogenous GHB (22). [...]we urge the scientific community investigating GHB to focus on new alternative metabolites, such as the carboxylic glucuronated metabolite, that may provide a longer detection window than the current ones. Gentili S, Mortali C, Mastrobattista L, Berretta P, Zaami S. Determination of different recreational drugs in sweat by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME GC/MS): Application to drugged drivers.