Home brewed hard drugs

[rainbow]

The fun part, for those presently cowering under the yoke of an oppressive nannystate:

The "nannystate" is a global phenomenon. Clicking on sites the powers that be disapprove of will soon turn you into a "person of interest", and they will have a closer look at what else you're up to. You may not be aware that you have become one until they decide that you have become sufficiently "interesting" to warrant further action. Digital snooping is not confined to tracking your activities for marketing purposes.

Luckily, the powers that be don't give a flying continental fuck about Rationalia...

...don't we?

Oops, of course they don't!

[laklak]

It's not the continental flying fucks I worry about, it's the intercontinental ones you have to look our for.

[cronus]

The fun part, for those presently cowering under the yoke of an oppressive nannystate:

The "nannystate" is a global phenomenon. Clicking on sites the powers that be disapprove of will soon turn you into a "person of interest", and they will have a closer look at what else you're up to. You may not be aware that you have become one until they decide that you have become sufficiently "interesting" to warrant further action. Digital snooping is not confined to tracking your activities for marketing purposes.

Luckily, the powers that be don't give a flying continental fuck about Rationalia...

Exactly these sort of nowhere places that seedy criminal stuff does flourish. Why big data(NSA and etc...) keeps digital and human look-outs around, who are good with spotting those suspect criminal patterns.

[Blind groper]

Alcohol is a hard drug.

Withdrawal is more severe than heroin, there are more addicts, and it kills more people.

I read another article which stated that 15% of those who drink alcohol become addicts, while 27% of those who try heroin become addicts. Assuming that article is correct, then heroin is much more addictive.

Alcohol, of course, affects more people, and there will be, in absolute numbers, more alcohol addicts. Thus alcohol causes more harm, but it is still less addictive.

[rainbow]

The withdrawal symptoms of alcohol are more severe. Sudden cessation in addict results in DTs:
"Unlike the withdrawal syndrome associated with opioid dependence, DT (and alcohol withdrawal in general) can be fatal. Mortality was as high as 35% before the advent of intensive care and advanced pharmacotherapy; in the modern era of medicine, death rates range from 5 to 15%.[1]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

[mistermack]

The withdrawal symptoms of alcohol are more severe. Sudden cessation in addict results in DTs:
"Unlike the withdrawal syndrome associated with opioid dependence, DT (and alcohol withdrawal in general) can be fatal. Mortality was as high as 35% before the advent of intensive care and advanced pharmacotherapy; in the modern era of medicine, death rates range from 5 to 15%.[1]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

Amy Winehouse was pretty well clear of drink, but it still killed her.
I think she had a massive relapse bender. Not sure if that's right.

But even when you think you've shaken it off, it can still get you.

[pErvinalia]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 7915303900

Within a few years, genetically modified yeast will be created, that makes morphine. Once created, it is hard to see that yeast remaining locked up in labs, especially now that simple genetic modification is leaving the lab, and becoming possible at home.

With just a pinch of the yeast, it would then be ridiculously easy to make hard drugs at home. Just buy some home brew nutrient mix, and add the yeast. Within a few days, you will have a brew that can get you high. Just take a few sips.

[Blind groper]

To Rainbow

About alcohol detox.

While you are correct that alcohol withdrawal may be severe, that severity is also rare. It happens when a person has abused alcohol badly for a significant period of time. Most people who are addicted to alcohol do not fit into that category, and will not show severe withdrawal.

Heroin, though, causes severe withdrawal symptoms in every case of heroin addiction where the addict stops taking it.

[rainbow]

To Rainbow

About alcohol detox.

While you are correct that alcohol withdrawal may be severe, that severity is also rare. It happens when a person has abused alcohol badly for a significant period of time. Most people who are addicted to alcohol do not fit into that category, and will not show severe withdrawal.

Heroin, though, causes severe withdrawal symptoms in every case of heroin addiction where the addict stops taking it.

It was called the Vietnam War. Time magazine reported using heroin was “as common as chewing gum” among U.S. soldiers, and there is solid evidence to back this up: some 20 percent of U.S. soldiers had become addicted to heroin there, according to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Many people were understandably terrified; they believed a huge number of addicts were about to head home when the war ended.

But in fact some 95 percent of the addicted soldiers — according to the same study — simply stopped. Very few had rehab. They shifted from a terrifying cage back to a pleasant one, so didn’t want the drug any more.

http://wakeup-world.com/2015/05/26/the- ... you-think/

[Blind groper]

Rainbow

You will recall that I said 27% of heroin users became addicted. That means 73% of heroin users can quit without any serious side effects. This is more or less consistent with what you said about Viet Nam, allowing for journalistic exaggerations.

It is also interesting to recall what happens in hospitals with morphine users. If morphine is used at a level just sufficient to combat pain, addiction does not result. Perhaps something similar happened in Viet Nam?

Alcoholics run to 15% of alcohol users. That means 85% of alcohol users can quite without even mild side effects.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Rainbow

You will recall that I said 27% of heroin users became addicted. That means 73% of heroin users can quit without any serious side effects. This is more or less consistent with what you said about Viet Nam, allowing for journalistic exaggerations.

It is also interesting to recall what happens in hospitals with morphine users. If morphine is used at a level just sufficient to combat pain, addiction does not result. Perhaps something similar happened in Viet Nam?

Alcoholics run to 15% of alcohol users. That means 85% of alcohol users can quite without even mild side effects.

Addiction on heroin is directly linked to duration and frequency of use. Using heroin causes physical changes in the body. Users build up tolerance very quickly if they take the drug regularly. Full-blown junkies require about 75 times the heroin of a newbie to get high - an amount that would kill a non-user instantly! However, it only takes a few weeks to "reset" the clock - ie. for the body to readjust to the lack of smack. The trouble is, that readjustment is an extremely painful and traumatic experience.

You can take heroin a couple of times a month for years, never need to increase your dosage, and walk away with little or no withdrawal. Take it 3 times a day for a couple of months and you are going to become addicted and will suffer withdrawal. What it comes down to is whether you are the kind of person that develops a psychological need for the drug and becomes a regular user.


Alcoholism, on the other hand, is very different. Many regular, heavy drinkers simply don't become alcoholics. There are genetic factors at play that are not completely understood.

[rainbow]

Rainbow

You will recall that I said 27% of heroin users became addicted. That means 73% of heroin users can quit without any serious side effects. This is more or less consistent with what you said about Viet Nam, allowing for journalistic exaggerations.

It is also interesting to recall what happens in hospitals with morphine users. If morphine is used at a level just sufficient to combat pain, addiction does not result. Perhaps something similar happened in Viet Nam?

Alcoholics run to 15% of alcohol users. That means 85% of alcohol users can quite without even mild side effects.

Fair enough, but the comparison is skewed somewhat by the illegality and social non-acceptance of heroin. Many alcohol users (social drinkers) take one-or-two in a social situation.
I'd say that taking regular drinkers and heroin users, the addiction rates might be similar. However as the article states, it might have more to do with social misery than actual chemistry.

[rainbow]

Alcoholism, on the other hand, is very different. Many regular, heavy drinkers simply don't become alcoholics. There are genetic factors at play that are not completely understood.

Sure it isn't understood, and in fact alcoholism is poorly defined.
According to AA, I'd be classified as an alcoholic:
http://www.aasouthafrica.org.za/IsAAFor ... holic.aspx

How did you fare?

[JimC]

Gin doesn't count, right?

[Blind groper]

On the vast majority of those questions, I answer no. But I could stretch to a yes on three. This makes me, on that test, an alcoholic.

Some years ago, I was concerned about the amount I drank, and talked to my doctor. He gave me a piece of advice which I followed strictly since. He said to set aside three days a week in which I was not to drink a single drop of any alcoholic drink.

I had no problem doing that, and continue doing that today. This, according to him, means I am not an alcoholic, since a true alcoholic (unlike a true Scotsman) cannot do without alcohol and cheats to continue drinking.