Gamma‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been used as a recreational drug since the 1990s and over the last few years there has been increasing use of its analogues gamma‐butyrolactone (GBL) and to a lesser extent 1,4‐butanediol (1,4BD). This review article will summarise the literature on the pharmacology of these compounds; the patterns and management of acute toxicity associated with their use; and the clinical patterns of presentation and management of chronic dependency associated with GHB and its analogues.