4 ms·

Years ago I heard Dr. Dean Edell(a U.S. Doctor, media personality, and a rational guy--whom other doctors admit to listening to-), say this, 'If I was going to

Years ago I heard Dr. Dean Edell(a U.S. Doctor, media personality, and a rational guy--whom other doctors admit to listening to-), say this, 'If I was going to be addicted to any drug--it would probally be Opioids? It does the least damage.' I'll always remember that statement, but I think he meant in a perfect world(where you could get legal, pharmaceutical grade product)? The addicts, I know, have so many ancillary diseases, and health problems--I don't think I would ever try it--even once. (I imagine the health problems are due to dirty needles, and unknown handling, and "cutting" of the drug?)

ghshephard 11y ago
My vote would go to caffeine, not only is the damage minimal (at low doses) to your body, its LD50 is also really hard to hit without trying exceptionally hard (though not unheard of). Lots of people OD on heroin and die accidentally, its extraordinarily rare for someone on tea/coffee to OD and die.
- DanBC 11y ago
  I agree that heroin is a really bad idea. But the reasons people die by accidental overdose are: 1) they've recently tried to quit and thus have a lower threshold. 2) they've somehow got much purer product than they're used to. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-33126995 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-3312699... Heroin for addicts could be much safer than it is now.
- XzetaU8 11y ago
  Adrenal insufficiency or Fatigue as they call it is a real problem from coffee OD though, Instead of caffeine i recommend Piracetam, far far lower LD50 score than caffeine and it's virtually impossible to OD or die from taking too much from this stuff.
  - ghshephard 11y ago
    Indeed - it looks like the LD50 for Piracetam is about 15x that of caffeine in terms of mg/kg body mass. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926585 http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926585 - caffeine Toxicological Data on Ingredients: Piracetam: ORAL (LD50): Acute: 2000 mg/kg [Mouse]. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927475 http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927475 - Piracetam Caffeine LD50 Acute: 192 mg/kg [Rat]. 127 mg/kg [Mouse]. 224 mg/kg [ Rabbit]. Presuming human equivalence to mice - A 185 pound person would need to ingest about 168 grams of piracetam as compared to around 10 grams of caffeine. But - it's really important to note that both are toxic to the point of being fatal in easily digestible, relatively small amounts. Caffeine, in particular, can creep up on you pretty quickly - penguin mints are 1/2 gram per tin. (75 * 7 mg/mint).
dreamfactory2 11y ago
Didn't work out well for China. There's a reason Asian countries have zero tolerance
- fineman 11y ago
  Yeah, brutal authoritarian governments with no concern for human life. A drunk/high citizen is a slave that cannot work.
  - dreamfactory2 11y ago
    Yes, I'm sure the Chinese have no experience and concern with the societal effects of opium which turned the whole country into slaves
    - fineman 11y ago
      I'm sure that what the British did to China doesn't justify the death penalty for simple drug possession or use. Especially when it's a hot-button issue that almost guarantees the lack of a fair trial. Besides, it seems wider than just China and its descendants.

ghshephard 11y ago

My vote would go to caffeine, not only is the damage minimal (at low doses) to your body, its LD50 is also really hard to hit without trying exceptionally hard (though not unheard of). Lots of people OD on heroin and die accidentally, its extraordinarily rare for someone on tea/coffee to OD and die.

DanBC 11y ago
I agree that heroin is a really bad idea. But the reasons people die by accidental overdose are: 1) they've recently tried to quit and thus have a lower threshold. 2) they've somehow got much purer product than they're used to. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-33126995 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-3312699... Heroin for addicts could be much safer than it is now.
XzetaU8 11y ago
Adrenal insufficiency or Fatigue as they call it is a real problem from coffee OD though, Instead of caffeine i recommend Piracetam, far far lower LD50 score than caffeine and it's virtually impossible to OD or die from taking too much from this stuff.
- ghshephard 11y ago
  Indeed - it looks like the LD50 for Piracetam is about 15x that of caffeine in terms of mg/kg body mass. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926585 http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926585 - caffeine Toxicological Data on Ingredients: Piracetam: ORAL (LD50): Acute: 2000 mg/kg [Mouse]. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927475 http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927475 - Piracetam Caffeine LD50 Acute: 192 mg/kg [Rat]. 127 mg/kg [Mouse]. 224 mg/kg [ Rabbit]. Presuming human equivalence to mice - A 185 pound person would need to ingest about 168 grams of piracetam as compared to around 10 grams of caffeine. But - it's really important to note that both are toxic to the point of being fatal in easily digestible, relatively small amounts. Caffeine, in particular, can creep up on you pretty quickly - penguin mints are 1/2 gram per tin. (75 * 7 mg/mint).

dreamfactory2 11y ago

Didn't work out well for China. There's a reason Asian countries have zero tolerance

fineman 11y ago
Yeah, brutal authoritarian governments with no concern for human life. A drunk/high citizen is a slave that cannot work.
- dreamfactory2 11y ago
  Yes, I'm sure the Chinese have no experience and concern with the societal effects of opium which turned the whole country into slaves
  - fineman 11y ago
    I'm sure that what the British did to China doesn't justify the death penalty for simple drug possession or use. Especially when it's a hot-button issue that almost guarantees the lack of a fair trial. Besides, it seems wider than just China and its descendants.