Cyprus Times

Cyprus: Man Dies, Four Hospitalized After Consuming GBL/GHB Substance

Published January 7, 2026, 17:07
Cyprus: Man Dies, Four Hospitalized After Consuming GBL/GHB Substance

A tragic incident is under investigation in Larnaca, Cyprus, after a 78-year-old man died and four others were hospitalized in critical condition. The cause appears to be the consumption of a GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone) or GHB substance, which was detected in a water cooler from which they drank. GHB is a central nervous system depressant with varying effects depending on the dose, ranging from euphoria and relaxation to drowsiness and overdose. The substance was previously used in surgery but became popular as a recreational drug in the 1990s, and has also been linked to cases of sexual assault. GBL, a common form of GHB, is converted into GHB within the body and can have even more unpredictable effects. The son of the deceased, who is facing drug-related charges, is being investigated in connection with the case.