Alpha News

GBL Substance: Potent Side Effects, Blood Detection, and High Addiction Potential

Published January 8, 2026, 12:34

The substance GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone) was detected in water from a cooler in a house, following the death of a 78-year-old and the hospitalization of four people. GBL is used industrially as a solvent and cleaner, but when it enters the body it transforms into GHB, a potent narcotic with a suppressive effect on the nervous system. Police are investigating how the substance ended up in the house and the cooler, with test results pending from the victim's body and the hospitalized individuals. The exact amount of GBL in the water has not yet been determined. Police Spokesman Vyronas Vyronos stated that the case has not yet been linked to the son's previous arrest for drug possession, but this will be investigated. The Police continue their investigative work. The President of the Addiction Treatment Authority, Dr. Christos Mina, explained that GBL is a legal industrial substance used in many products, but it is dangerous for human consumption. The substance has a suppressive effect and can cause unpredictable effects on the body. The case is ongoing and authorities are trying to clarify the circumstances under which the GBL substance was found in the water, in order to determine whether the death and hospitalizations were caused by it.