strychnine and Substance-Related-Disorders

The recovery of heroin in fumes was investigated. In the Netherlands the common mode of heroin smoking is the 'chasing the dragon' procedure: heroin is heated on an aluminium foil by a lighter and the fumes are inhaled. The efficiency of the volatilization of heroin using this procedure was studied under laboratory conditions using thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography. A considerable influence of the form (salt or base) of the heroin was found as well as strong influences of other substances that may be present in illicit heroin samples as diluents. The danger of the inhalation of fumes containing unknown pyrolysis products is mentioned and a hypothesis is given for the phenomenon of 'heroin'-leucoencephalopathy that was observed in heroin smokers in Amsterdam in 1981. The types of heroin encountered in the Netherlands are discussed with regard to their suitability for smoking.

Topics: Barbital; Caffeine; Chromatography, Gas; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Codeine; Heroin; Hot Temperature; Morphine Derivatives; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders; Volatilization

Topics: Humans; Male; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Injections, Intravenous; Poisoning; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders

Large amounts of strychnine were found in the bodies of two drug abusers, presumable as a result of injection of "street drugs" adulterated with strychnine. Current therapeutic research with this drug, if widely accepted into medical practice, may lead to its greater availability and hence an increased poisoning incidence potential.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Aldehydes; Amphetamine; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Hallucinogens; Humans; Indicators and Reagents; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Mescaline; Methods; p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene; Phencyclidine; Platinum; Psilocybin; Solvents; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Alcoholism; Animals; Auditory Threshold; Behavior, Animal; Electroshock; Ethanol; Female; Humans; Pentylenetetrazole; Rats; Seizures; Strychnine; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Age Factors; Altitude; Anabolic Agents; Female; Humans; Male; Sports Medicine; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Cannabis; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Drug Contamination; Humans; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Mescaline; Phencyclidine; Scopolamine; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Amphetamine; Antidepressive Agents; Barbiturates; Caustics; Dextropropoxyphene; Emergencies; Hallucinogens; Heroin; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Insecticides; Iron; Organophosphorus Compounds; Petroleum; Phenothiazines; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents; Vitamins

Topics: Adult; Amphetamine; Blindness; Carbon Tetrachloride; Cosmetics; Ethanol; Ethics, Medical; Female; Humans; Male; Methanol; Poisoning; Prisons; Sex Factors; Social Values; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents; Turpentine

Topics: Amphetamine; Animals; Chlorpromazine; Crime; Digitalis Glycosides; Heroin; Horses; Humans; Narcotics; Nitroglycerin; Plants, Medicinal; Procaine; Sports; Strychnine; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; United Kingdom