Death by GHB: while the drug du jour causes controversy for GMHC, it cost one writer a friend.

While the drug du jour causes controversy for GMHC, it cost one writer a friend

I knew Frank Giordano, who died August 16 of a of gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB) overdose on Fire Island, N.Y. He was a lovely, sweet-hearted guy. I recently learned that an acquaintance of mine named Bryan had been the one who comforted Frank for the last three hours of his life before he died in Bryan's arms. I spoke to Bryan for more than an hour, and he gave me the following account of what happened that night:

Around midnight Bryan met Frank while hanging out at the bar in the "Sip and Twirl." They danced for about ten minutes before Frank began to feel sick and asked Bryan if he would accompany him outside. Paramedics were already on the opposite side of the bar treating two of Frank's friends and another man that Frank and his friends had recently met on the boardwalk. All three had overdosed on GHB. One was having seizures.

Although Bryan did not know Frank was friends with the other three, he stayed with him and tried to ascertain whether he had taken GHB. Frank appeared at moments to regain his composure and repeatedly told Bryan how handsome he was and that he was going to take him out for dinner to make up for putting him through such an ordeal. Bryan says he thinks Frank didn't tell him about the GHB because he was embarrassed about having taken the drug.

Even though Frank was clearly in distress during the hour the two of them sat outside the club, only one person offered to help. Bryan asked that individual to get some juice, but he never returned. A paramedic eventually walked up and asked if Frank needed help, but Frank insisted he was fine. The other three men were strapped to stretchers (to prevent seizures) and were airlifted to a Long Island hospital. According to another friend of mine who watched the three being treated, bystanders at the scene were giving them looks of disgust.

Franked asked Bryan to walk him home but said he couldn't remember where he was staying. After searching the neighborhood together for a while, Frank recognized the street of the house where he was a guest. Apparently keeping in mind that this was a "no drug" house, Frank crept around the exterior trying to determine if anyone was awake. Seeing no one around, the two of them went up to Frank's room. Frank sat in front of the toilet feeling sick; Bryan sat on the bed. Around 2 a.m. Frank started dry-heaving and then finally admitted that he had taken GHB.

Bryan called 911 and then sat on the bathroom floor to hold Frank. Moments later Frank threw up, his body went stiff, his eyes rolled back, and he started to swallow his tongue. Bryan put his hand in Frank's mouth to try to stop him from choking on his tongue. The police were summoned and arrived shortly thereafter. After trying to revive Frank, the police had him airlifted to a hospital on Long Island, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

One of Frank's friends was released from the hospital on Sunday, just in time to attend the Morning Party; I know--I saw him there. The other friend, who was much closer to Frank, was released from the hospital Monday and has been devastated by the news. Bryan was questioned by the police homicide unit the next day. The officers said they wanted to make sure no one had "slipped Frank a Mickey," in their words. He assured them that Frank had taken the drugs of his own accord. Bryan told me he feels guilty for not insisting that Frank see the paramedics outside the club and for not trying to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He says he intends to take a CPR class when he returns home. I told Bryan that if it weren't for him, Frank very well could have spent those last grim hours alone.

--An advocate contributing writer who wishes to remain anonymous.