Inquest reminds of GHB dangers

A coronial inquest into the fatal GHB overdoses of two Sydney gay men has raised concerns over use of the drug.

Nathan Skropeta and Phillip Wyburn died in separate incidents while on the drug in June and October 2006.

GHB is a banned anesthetic drug for which the dosage needed for a high differs greatly between individuals, and has a narrow margin between achieving its drug effect and overdosing.

Witnesses told police at the time of Skropeta’s death that he had repeatedly taken GHB during the night of June 16 after earlier smoking crystal methamphetamine.

The apartment in which Skropeta died was shared by Wyburn and another man, Bennett Melville.

Melville and Skropeta allegedly had sex on the night.

Skropeta is known to have occasionally worked as a prostitute, while Wyburn is known to have been a supplier of drugs.

Wyburn is believed to have died on October 29 at the Darlinghurst boarding house he had moved to but his body was not found until November 1.

Wyburn had overdosed, but his wallet and keys were missing when he was found.

The inquest will determine the dates, times and manners of the men’s deaths and examine the adequacy of the police investigation into Skropeta’s death.