10 complaints were filed in the Hautes-Pyrénées concerning bites that occurred in the evenings. This is the figure communicated this Friday by the Tarbes prosecution. However, the prosecutor explains that to date, there is no evidence that these people were victims of drug injection or another substance. This means that the analyzes carried out on the plaintiffs do not reveal any presence of “abnormal” GHB since the human body produces GHB.
Pierre Aurignac, prosecutor of Tarbes, insists on the vigilance to have these next weeks: “There are many situations that can put a person in a similar situation mixing cannabis and alcohol. It can produce the same effects, disinhibition, memory loss. Among the organizers, we can only call for caution. Do not leave your drink anywhere. […] As far as possible, we must put in place the greatest caution on an event which must remain festive and must not cause psychosis among our fellow citizens..”
During the analyses, the laboratories check for the presence of 100 substances, including GHB. Antoine Petitcollin, toxicologist and legal expert for the Court of Appeal of Pau: “GHB is a substance produced naturally by the body and that we therefore find when we take blood samples or urine samples. To my knowledge, there is a case where GHB was found but it is perfectly normal. What makes the difference between a possible administration and a natural production is the quantity. As long as the quantity is below a certain threshold, the presence of GHB is completely normal..”
If some have the impression of being the victim of these bites, they can continue to file a complaint. There is a need to advance the investigation insists Colonel Sébastien Hamel, commander of the departmental group of gendarmerie of the Hautes-Pyrénées. In addition, the risk of infection is extremely low according to the authorities. Which means there is very low risk of catching HIV or hepatitis after being bitten.