Russian Roulette is a game of chance. Put the gun to you head and pull the trigger. If there is a bullet in the chamber, youÕre dead. If there isnÕt, the next guy has something to worry about. If you survive, you can brag about your bravery. If you lose, of course, there will never be another game.
Methamphetamine was his ŌgunĶ of choice
For years Brad was playing that game of Russian Roulette, only he did it with methamphetamine not a pistol. ItÕs the same game and the longer it goes on the less chance of surviving. He loved the initial ŌhighĶ and tried over and over to repeat the first experience.
The trouble was, the initial intensity wore off and what was such a pleasurable experience turned into a daily routine of scraping up some drug, smoking it and hoping he would feel better. He was sold a bill of goods, because it never worked out the way he wanted it, only nobody could tell him that. In the early stages of his disease, his parents suspected he was using something, but they didnÕt know what and they didnÕt know what to look for. There were the usual expressions of concern, but Brad would quickly put those to rest, assuring mom and dad that he was fine, no cause for alarm. Meanwhile, the cylinder slowly rotated.
Harmless Beginning
Like most crystal meth addiction stories, it all seemed so harmless in the beginning. Brad and some friends got the meth from an acquaintance and went to the park. YouÕve heard the rationale before—weÕre just having a little fun, no harm in that. Sure it was fun, for a while. His other friends tried it and didnÕt go back for a second encounter, but for Brad, this was the answer to what he had been looking for. The euphoria, the feeling of empowerment, the security of knowing that everything was better now, or so he thought, was a game changer for him.
His long-term problems began soon after, because the acquaintance who was so generous and accommodating before, now wanted more money for his goods. But thatÕs a small price to pay for something so valuable. That became a daily expenditure and brad could not afford to buy off the street anymore. He decided to make his own, and he could actually make money doing it because what he didnÕt need himself he could sell and support his habit. At least to brad, it made perfect sense.
He needed raw materials and that was going to be a problem. He needed to buy cold medicine for the ephedrine. The other ingredients—a piece of cake. But why someone would want to inhale these is a mystery. The Lynn (MA) Police Department web site lists the ingredients and youÕll see why itÕs a chilling thought. Read their explanation. ItÕs not a stretch.
Sodium hydroxide - aka, Lye Classified
as a corrosive, sodium hydroxide is one of the main chemicals in drain cleaner
and is also used in aluminum etching and to create biodiesel. ItÕs also used by ranchers, serial killers, and city workers
who must dispose of road kill to dissolve dead bodies. Carcasses are placed in
a sealed chamber with sodium hydroxide and water, turning the body into a
coffee-like liquid.
Anhydrous Ammonia This
substance, used in chemical fertilizer and as a commercial refrigerant, has
extremely destructive effects on humans. Breathing the vapor can cause severe
irritation and permanent damage to the lungs, throat, and eyes. Because
Anhydrous (meaning Ōwithout waterĶ) Ammonia seeks out water and causes severe
burns, any body part that comes into contact with it should be flushed with
water for at least 15 minutes to remove the ammonia from the skin. One man even
had his buttocks eaten away by improperly handling this stuff.
Iodine
Iodine is a natural element and
helpful to the body in small amounts. But taken in large amounts, iodine can
becomes toxic. Extremely high does of iodine can limit the
function of the thyroid. It takes roughly 4 bottles of iodine tincture
to produce 2-3 grams of meth.
Matches - Red Phosphorus By
combining red phosphorus and iodine, you can easily create the highly
controlled substance Hydriotic Acid which is an
essential ingredient in making meth. Creating 2-3 grams of meth requires about
4 big boxes of matches. HereÕs a better use of match sticks.
Ephedrine The use of ephedrine in
making methamphetamines is the main reason why many sinus medications like
Sudafed, with active ingredient of ephedrine, are under lock and key at grocery
stores and pharmacies now.
Ephedrine causes the brain to release dopamine, a chemical naturally produced by the body that evokes feelings of elation on the same level as sex, food, and other rewards necessary for species survival. EphedrineÕs effect of releasing dopamine is thought to be the reason why people become so addicted to meth. The problem is that by artificially creating dopamine chemically, meth users eventually lose the ability to feel happiness at all. That's why crystal meth addiction stories are stories of addiction and loss.
Ether
Once called Ōsweet vitriolĶ because of its hypnotic effect,
this highly flammable substance is used as an anesthetic agent - especially in
third world countries where more expensive anesthesia is not available. While
inhaling the compound, patients could undergo complete surgical procedures
while otherwise awake without feeling pain or concern.
Drano
The product label warning says it all: DANGER: MAY BURN EYES
AND SKIN ON CONTACT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid contact with body and
clothing. TOXIC GAS MAY FORM IF MIXED WITH OTHER CHEMICALS. If gases are
released, leave immediately and ventilate area. FIRST AID: Give Immediately:
EYES AND SKIN: Flush with water for 20 minutes. Remove affected clothing. IF
SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth and drink a glass of water or milk. Do not induce
vomiting. THEN SEEK MEDICAL AID.
Brake Fluid
When working with
brake fluid, be careful not to spill it on your car as it will eat away the
paint and chrome. YouÕve also got to be careful using brake fluid around other
household chemicals because its high concentration of polyethylene glycol can
cause it to ignite in a violent fireball. But meth users donÕt mind putting it
into their body for the tradeoff of a high.
Lighter Fluid – Butane Starting
to see why meth labs blow up so frequently? This highly flammable liquefied gas
is used in the cooking process. When inhaled directly, butane can cause drowsiness,
narcosis, asphyxia; cardiac arrhythmia and frostbite,
which can result in instant death from Asphyxiation, Acute toxicity and
ventricular fibrillation. When itÕs ingested, lighter fluid causes
gastrointestinal problems, lethargy, diarrhea, and in high enough doses, death.
Hydrochloric acid This
highly corrosive liquid is used to remove rust and iron-oxide from steel,
leather processing, household cleaning and to produce organic compounds such as
PVC pipe and polyurethane. It also makes up the majority of the gastric acid in
human digestive fluid. In high concentrations, hydrochloric acid will literally
eat away human flesh.
Meth Labs VERY dangerous! From
time-to-time we read about meth labs blowing up and causing serve injuries.
Most recently, the manufacturing process has become more streamlined and the
small, portable labs can be set up anywhere and very quickly. That makes law
enforcement all the more difficult.
Cooking it in his apartment: Brad was cooking meth in his own apartment, which was located about the detached garage at his parentsÕ house. Nobody knew what he was doing, because nobody went up there. Brad was always a Ōtidy boyĶ according to mom, so she knew the place would be well kept up. He was brewing his death almost out in the open, in a nice middle class neighborhood, where nobody would ask questions or suspect anything.
No happy ending to crystal meth addiction stories
There is no happy ending to crystal meth addiction stories. He didnÕt get busted and he didnÕt go to jail. He didnÕt even have to go to treatment. He just did nothing to curb the damage done by the disease. He died of a heart attack. He got the cylinder with the bullet. He, as most do, lost his game of Russian Roulette!
http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/Crystal-Meth-Addiction-Stories.html