You can definitely die from alcohol withdrawal; I don't think it's uncommon in hard liquor dawn to dusk drinkers. I think the rule would apply to benzos, alcohol, and presumably other similar GABA-receptor actors, including GHB/GLB
Inhalants: yeah just get high on pure brain damage why don’t you
This is a myth.
Nitrous oxide is used as a medical anaesthetic and obviously doesn't cause brain damage. Amyl, butyl, and isobutyl nitrates are just smooth muscle relaxants. These are just fine (and fun). Just remember to breathe oxygen and know that poppers might give you a headache.
The predominant route of administration of volatile solvents is through inhalation of fumes, known in street terms as ‘huffing,' or ‘chroming' (Lubman et al, 2008). Toluene is detectable by humans at concentrations as low as 11 p.p.m. (World Health Organization, 2000), and a low-detectable concentration is probably common among other volatile solvents. In contrast, those who intentionally inhale volatile solvents for intoxication usually expose themselves for a short duration (around 15 min) to extremely high vapor concentrations, up to 15 000 p.p.m. (Hathaway and Proctor, 2004).
Toluene likely has the most well-documented pharmacological profile of all the volatile solvents studied. While the majority of the toluene vapor exhaled is unchanged, the rest enters the bloodstream through the alveoli and distributes throughout the body (Garcia, 1996). Ten minutes following initiation of vapor inhalation, the blood concentration of toluene in rats reaches about 60% of maximum, and then drops to around 30% of maximum 40 min following cessation of inhalation (Benignus, 1981). Due to excretion from lungs and metabolism, it is estimated that about 3% of the original vapor concentration of toluene reaches the brain (Benignus et al, 1981).
Toluene acts as a central nervous system depressant, and it is likely that all volatile solvents act similarly, although potency and sites of action may differ between solvent type. Like ethanol, the most commonly used CNS depressant, toluene, benzene, m-xylene, ethylbenzene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) dose-dependently and reversibly inhibit NMDA receptors, with a higher potency on GluN1/2B than GluN1/2A receptors (Cruz et al, 1998, 2000). Toluene, TCE, and trichloroethylene (TCY) also enhance GABAA and glycine receptor function (Beckstead et al, 2000, 2001). In the hippocampal CA1 synapses, toluene enhances GABAergic neurotransmission by increasing the intracellular calcium concentration in the presynaptic terminal, leading to an increased release of GABA (MacIver, 2009). While volatile solvents pharmacologically inhibit NMDARs and enhance GABAA activity, prolonged exposure to inhalants leads to a homeostatic process whereby NMDA-mediated currents are enhanced and GABAA currents are diminished (Bale et al, 2005). NMDA and GABAA receptor subunit expression follows this homeostatic response as well, with an increase in GluN1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), GluN2B in the NAc and VTA, and a decrease in GABAA α1 subunit expression in the VTA and substantia nigra (Williams et al, 2005). Therefore, toluene and likely other volatile solvents bi-directionally affect inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission depending on whether exposure is acute or chronic.
While toluene's action on the GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems likely underlies much of its CNS depressant effects, toluene has also been shown to act on a number of other ion channels and modulatory processes. Thus, toluene affects synaptic signaling by increasing intracellular levels of calcium in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, and this action is blocked by dantrolene, a ryanodine receptor antagonist, or thapsigargin, a SERCA inhibitor (Beckley and Woodward, 2011; MacIver, 2009), suggesting an interaction with intracellular receptors that gate calcium stores. Toluene also dose-dependently inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, with α4β2 and α3β2 subtypes being particularly sensitive (Bale et al, 2002). Toluene, along with TCE and TCY and ethanol, also enhances serotonin 5HT3 function (Sung et al, 2000; Lopreato et al, 2003). Toluene's effect on 5HT3 receptors may be important in mediating its rewarding properties, as 5HT3 activation synergizes with systemic administration of ethanol in enhancing extracellular DA in the NAc (Campbell and McBride, 1995), and in alcohol-dependent individuals, ondansetron, a 5HT3 antagonist, reduces BOLD changes due to alcohol cues in the ventral striatum (Myrick et al, 2008). In contrast to ethanol, toluene inhibits the calcium-activated potassium BK channel and also the G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel GIRK2 (Del Re et al, 2006). On the other hand, ethanol, anesthetics, toluene, TCE, and tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene (PERC), all inhibit voltage-sensitive calcium current-mediated voltage-gated calcium channels (Shafer et al, 2005; Tillar et al, 2002). Toluene also inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels, with cardiac subtypes being more sensitive than those expressed in neurons (Cruz et al, 2003; Gauthereau et al, 2005). This mechanism may relate to an abuser's development of ‘Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome,' which is a form of cardiac failure resulting from acute, high concentration exposure to volatile solvents (Kurtzman et al, 2001). Toluene has a complex interaction with ATP-sensitive P2X receptors, producing inhibition of P2X2 and P2X4 receptors activated by low, but not maximal, ATP concentrations, and potentiating currents in P2X3 receptors at all tested ATP concentrations (Woodward et al, 2004). Other effects of toluene include inhibition of gap junction connexin channels involved in intercellular communication (Del Re and Woodward, 2005). These diverse actions are summarized in Figure 2 and illustrate the wide range of potential targets for toluene in the CNS. Based on these findings, it can be hypothesized that toluene and other volatile solvents would have profound effects on fast synaptic transmission mediated by calcium-dependent release of neurotransmitters and activation of ligand-gated ion channels with less effect on axonal conduction. Differences in the expression of toluene-sensitive and insensitive targets between brain regions and during development would also be expected to determine the sensitivity of various behaviors or brain processes to volatile solvents. As discussed below, some of these actions have been examined using animal models of drug discrimination/reinforcement and single neuron electrophysiological approaches.
I concede that it's not "getting high on brain damage", and I especially double concede that I forgot nitrous oxide. But even with what you linked you gotta admit that shit is not great for you, and even if you wanted to make some defense past that I really don't think inhalants are going to be an attractive option for anyone that actually knows what they're getting into.
dude tobacco/nicotine is just a plant too. The natural world is full of shit that will just kill you outright when ingested, plenty of plants are addictive.
most drugs are bad but many are less harmful than we are led to believe like if you eat a weed brownie you are not going to find many long term ill effects from that unless you have a schizoid disorder or a compromised immune system
psychadelics can be pretty harmless but also should only be taken in the right environment and state of mind, like, lsd for instance wont physically kill you but if you drink a vial of the shit when you are the most stressed out youve ever been in your life its probably not going to be a good time and might even give you ptsd
DARE might even be fine in an alternate universe if they didn't comment on weed and psychedelics, and there wasn't an ongoing drug war in parallel to it.
I am firmly convinced that weed was only a "gateway drug" because of DARE propaganda. Kids try weed and say, "They lied to me!" and then try harder drugs that DARE didn't lie about.
The best source of objective drug information is Erowid.org. Consult them before you try anything so you can weigh the pros and cons
My takes:
Weed, acid, shrooms, and dmt are all rad. Consume responsibly and youll have great times.
Adderall is alright sometimes if you want to focus on something (youll be way better at video games ngl)
Tread carefully around Extacy/MDMA. Take it AT MOST once every three months, and make sure you can trust it. Lots of fakes. Id reccomend only doing it once or twice a year if you have the willpower, and if youre gonna do it MAKE SURE ITS WORTH IT. Cannot stress this enough. Molly on its own isnt that interesting, but if youre at a concert or a party you better believe youll be zooming. Honestly, youre better off avoiding it altogether but in very tight moderation youll be fine.
Coke is a lame drug for business losers; just skip it.
Ket can be fun while youre on it but overall I havent found anyone who says taking it was worth it. Definitely pass on it.
If you have more specific questions Ill do my best to answer.
Three months wait for MDMA is much better than one month, but I'm divided on the efficacy of which one to recommend to the general population. I should have just said three months probably.
I've never seen good outcomes from meth or heroin. The dude trying to fight me in the ER this week was on the end of a meth binge. I guess some people can use meth and be functional.
First of all, don't take drugs because random weirdos on the internet say they're cool. Second, do some research so you have at least some idea what you're doing so you don't outright kill yourself. Please stay safe. You're gonna do what you want anyway, but i've found that "hey, i'm already taking drugs, why should i care about anything?" is an attitude that always gets you in trouble at some point.
With that out of the way, here's my personal top 10 : Weed, LSD, MDMA, tilidin, ketamine, amphetamine, opium, 2C-D, 6-APB and, i don't know, booze i guess.
Top ten of drugs i fucking hate: Tramadol, cocaine, ether, mushrooms, oxycodone, 4-MEC, 4-FA, MPA, all JWHs, all benzos.
Drug that is too weird to go on either list: 5-MeO-MiPT aka Moxy
Keep in mind that taste in drugs is just as personal as taste in music, food, film or whatever. There's definitely people who'll disagree on all of the choices on my list, but this is a struggle session after all.
JWHs were the first generation of synthetic cannabinoids. I think it only went downhill from there, but i never messed with the later noid generations.
Yeah don't do this, one of the many pain meds I've been prescribed, it's very addictive and while the high is really good (imo), you'll be blurting out all your secrets faster than you can say them
Yeah, that also goes for oxy, tilidin and opium. Opioids are more than anything else in my "not more than once or twice a year" category, and i'd say that there's a lot of people who just can't keep usage that low. I don't mean these lists as "do these drugs, don't do these drugs", there's a ton of potentially nasty stuff on there.
I literally require such strong painkillers to operate daily. I remember switching to a new medication and not feeling sober for 2 whole weeks before the tolerance built up. Also winding down dosages is extremely hard, but necessary to prevent addiction if you're not in a lot of pain. It's so easy to just be like "I felt my shoulder twitch slightly, time to pop another pill". But I have to wind down the dosage so I don't end up with a drug addiction if/when my treatment works.
I'm sorry to hear that. I actually feel a bit bad now talking largely about recreational use. But yeah, i know what you mean with the twitchy shoulder thing. It's scary how the brain makes that connection between pain and drug.
Yeah it's scary, I accidentally outed myself as bi (I'm closeted irl) to a healthcare worker once while on the medication. I was so glad they weren't homophobic or anything, most people are where I live. I really hope there's a future where I'm pain free and don't have to be on this shit permanently, it was cool at first but now I just want to be "sober" if that makes sense
That makes perfect sense, and i get what you mean with the impulsive stuff, too. Sometimes there's just nothing you're afraid of anymore and ... that's not always a good thing. Hope there's something that helps you to be pain free one day!
Yeah, it's just a personal preference. A lot of people love how mystical and spiritual they feel, but i never really got into that. I like it when psychedelics feel really clear, when i can do crazy shit with my imagination or move around outdoors, and i find shrooms are more like "sit around and listen to what the mushroom tells you." That's just me, though, i've also met people who said that shrooms and LSD are basically the same to them, or people who find that they like shrooms more.
Definitely personal preference. I love shrooms and they've done more for me, medicinally and probably recreationally, than any other psychedelic including LSD.
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Those are my floppy disk opinions, take em or leave em.
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You can definitely die from alcohol withdrawal; I don't think it's uncommon in hard liquor dawn to dusk drinkers. I think the rule would apply to benzos, alcohol, and presumably other similar GABA-receptor actors, including GHB/GLB
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Gabapentin, despite the name, does not work on GABA receptors. It is a calcium channel blocker.
This is a myth.
Nitrous oxide is used as a medical anaesthetic and obviously doesn't cause brain damage. Amyl, butyl, and isobutyl nitrates are just smooth muscle relaxants. These are just fine (and fun). Just remember to breathe oxygen and know that poppers might give you a headache.
The others, like solvents, are toxic but have a wide range of mechanisms of action, none of which are "brain damage":
spoiler
The predominant route of administration of volatile solvents is through inhalation of fumes, known in street terms as ‘huffing,' or ‘chroming' (Lubman et al, 2008). Toluene is detectable by humans at concentrations as low as 11 p.p.m. (World Health Organization, 2000), and a low-detectable concentration is probably common among other volatile solvents. In contrast, those who intentionally inhale volatile solvents for intoxication usually expose themselves for a short duration (around 15 min) to extremely high vapor concentrations, up to 15 000 p.p.m. (Hathaway and Proctor, 2004).
Toluene likely has the most well-documented pharmacological profile of all the volatile solvents studied. While the majority of the toluene vapor exhaled is unchanged, the rest enters the bloodstream through the alveoli and distributes throughout the body (Garcia, 1996). Ten minutes following initiation of vapor inhalation, the blood concentration of toluene in rats reaches about 60% of maximum, and then drops to around 30% of maximum 40 min following cessation of inhalation (Benignus, 1981). Due to excretion from lungs and metabolism, it is estimated that about 3% of the original vapor concentration of toluene reaches the brain (Benignus et al, 1981).
Toluene acts as a central nervous system depressant, and it is likely that all volatile solvents act similarly, although potency and sites of action may differ between solvent type. Like ethanol, the most commonly used CNS depressant, toluene, benzene, m-xylene, ethylbenzene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) dose-dependently and reversibly inhibit NMDA receptors, with a higher potency on GluN1/2B than GluN1/2A receptors (Cruz et al, 1998, 2000). Toluene, TCE, and trichloroethylene (TCY) also enhance GABAA and glycine receptor function (Beckstead et al, 2000, 2001). In the hippocampal CA1 synapses, toluene enhances GABAergic neurotransmission by increasing the intracellular calcium concentration in the presynaptic terminal, leading to an increased release of GABA (MacIver, 2009). While volatile solvents pharmacologically inhibit NMDARs and enhance GABAA activity, prolonged exposure to inhalants leads to a homeostatic process whereby NMDA-mediated currents are enhanced and GABAA currents are diminished (Bale et al, 2005). NMDA and GABAA receptor subunit expression follows this homeostatic response as well, with an increase in GluN1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), GluN2B in the NAc and VTA, and a decrease in GABAA α1 subunit expression in the VTA and substantia nigra (Williams et al, 2005). Therefore, toluene and likely other volatile solvents bi-directionally affect inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission depending on whether exposure is acute or chronic.
While toluene's action on the GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems likely underlies much of its CNS depressant effects, toluene has also been shown to act on a number of other ion channels and modulatory processes. Thus, toluene affects synaptic signaling by increasing intracellular levels of calcium in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, and this action is blocked by dantrolene, a ryanodine receptor antagonist, or thapsigargin, a SERCA inhibitor (Beckley and Woodward, 2011; MacIver, 2009), suggesting an interaction with intracellular receptors that gate calcium stores. Toluene also dose-dependently inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, with α4β2 and α3β2 subtypes being particularly sensitive (Bale et al, 2002). Toluene, along with TCE and TCY and ethanol, also enhances serotonin 5HT3 function (Sung et al, 2000; Lopreato et al, 2003). Toluene's effect on 5HT3 receptors may be important in mediating its rewarding properties, as 5HT3 activation synergizes with systemic administration of ethanol in enhancing extracellular DA in the NAc (Campbell and McBride, 1995), and in alcohol-dependent individuals, ondansetron, a 5HT3 antagonist, reduces BOLD changes due to alcohol cues in the ventral striatum (Myrick et al, 2008). In contrast to ethanol, toluene inhibits the calcium-activated potassium BK channel and also the G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel GIRK2 (Del Re et al, 2006). On the other hand, ethanol, anesthetics, toluene, TCE, and tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene (PERC), all inhibit voltage-sensitive calcium current-mediated voltage-gated calcium channels (Shafer et al, 2005; Tillar et al, 2002). Toluene also inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels, with cardiac subtypes being more sensitive than those expressed in neurons (Cruz et al, 2003; Gauthereau et al, 2005). This mechanism may relate to an abuser's development of ‘Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome,' which is a form of cardiac failure resulting from acute, high concentration exposure to volatile solvents (Kurtzman et al, 2001). Toluene has a complex interaction with ATP-sensitive P2X receptors, producing inhibition of P2X2 and P2X4 receptors activated by low, but not maximal, ATP concentrations, and potentiating currents in P2X3 receptors at all tested ATP concentrations (Woodward et al, 2004). Other effects of toluene include inhibition of gap junction connexin channels involved in intercellular communication (Del Re and Woodward, 2005). These diverse actions are summarized in Figure 2 and illustrate the wide range of potential targets for toluene in the CNS. Based on these findings, it can be hypothesized that toluene and other volatile solvents would have profound effects on fast synaptic transmission mediated by calcium-dependent release of neurotransmitters and activation of ligand-gated ion channels with less effect on axonal conduction. Differences in the expression of toluene-sensitive and insensitive targets between brain regions and during development would also be expected to determine the sensitivity of various behaviors or brain processes to volatile solvents. As discussed below, some of these actions have been examined using animal models of drug discrimination/reinforcement and single neuron electrophysiological approaches.
I concede that it's not "getting high on brain damage", and I especially double concede that I forgot nitrous oxide. But even with what you linked you gotta admit that shit is not great for you, and even if you wanted to make some defense past that I really don't think inhalants are going to be an attractive option for anyone that actually knows what they're getting into.
Yeah, only N2O and poppers are good or safe. They're also legal, which is an advantage.
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dude tobacco/nicotine is just a plant too. The natural world is full of shit that will just kill you outright when ingested, plenty of plants are addictive.
No, weed is just good, period (for as long as you can afford it, anyway).
Alright you fucking got me I smoke and vape all the time. Doesn't mean it's not decent advice for someone better than me.
most drugs are bad but many are less harmful than we are led to believe like if you eat a weed brownie you are not going to find many long term ill effects from that unless you have a schizoid disorder or a compromised immune system
psychadelics can be pretty harmless but also should only be taken in the right environment and state of mind, like, lsd for instance wont physically kill you but if you drink a vial of the shit when you are the most stressed out youve ever been in your life its probably not going to be a good time and might even give you ptsd
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DARE lied about weed, but they didn't lie about meth and heroin.
DARE might even be fine in an alternate universe if they didn't comment on weed and psychedelics, and there wasn't an ongoing drug war in parallel to it.
I am firmly convinced that weed was only a "gateway drug" because of DARE propaganda. Kids try weed and say, "They lied to me!" and then try harder drugs that DARE didn't lie about.
I thought this was confirmed (particularly when the DEA dropped the "gateway drug theory" several years back)
The best source of objective drug information is Erowid.org. Consult them before you try anything so you can weigh the pros and cons
My takes: Weed, acid, shrooms, and dmt are all rad. Consume responsibly and youll have great times.
Adderall is alright sometimes if you want to focus on something (youll be way better at video games ngl)
Tread carefully around Extacy/MDMA. Take it AT MOST once every three months, and make sure you can trust it. Lots of fakes. Id reccomend only doing it once or twice a year if you have the willpower, and if youre gonna do it MAKE SURE ITS WORTH IT. Cannot stress this enough. Molly on its own isnt that interesting, but if youre at a concert or a party you better believe youll be zooming. Honestly, youre better off avoiding it altogether but in very tight moderation youll be fine.
Coke is a lame drug for business losers; just skip it.
Ket can be fun while youre on it but overall I havent found anyone who says taking it was worth it. Definitely pass on it.
If you have more specific questions Ill do my best to answer.
Three months wait for MDMA is much better than one month, but I'm divided on the efficacy of which one to recommend to the general population. I should have just said three months probably.
I've never seen good outcomes from meth or heroin. The dude trying to fight me in the ER this week was on the end of a meth binge. I guess some people can use meth and be functional.
How the hell did I forget meth lmao
First of all, don't take drugs because random weirdos on the internet say they're cool. Second, do some research so you have at least some idea what you're doing so you don't outright kill yourself. Please stay safe. You're gonna do what you want anyway, but i've found that "hey, i'm already taking drugs, why should i care about anything?" is an attitude that always gets you in trouble at some point.
With that out of the way, here's my personal top 10 : Weed, LSD, MDMA, tilidin, ketamine, amphetamine, opium, 2C-D, 6-APB and, i don't know, booze i guess.
Top ten of drugs i fucking hate: Tramadol, cocaine, ether, mushrooms, oxycodone, 4-MEC, 4-FA, MPA, all JWHs, all benzos.
Drug that is too weird to go on either list: 5-MeO-MiPT aka Moxy
Keep in mind that taste in drugs is just as personal as taste in music, food, film or whatever. There's definitely people who'll disagree on all of the choices on my list, but this is a struggle session after all.
This is some serious psychonaut shit. What the fuck even is a JWH?
JWHs were the first generation of synthetic cannabinoids. I think it only went downhill from there, but i never messed with the later noid generations.
Synthetic cannabinoids are just dumb; the real deal is so much better.
Fully agree, nothing beats good weed. Except good hash maybe :stalin-smokin:
Yeah don't do this, one of the many pain meds I've been prescribed, it's very addictive and while the high is really good (imo), you'll be blurting out all your secrets faster than you can say them
Yeah, that also goes for oxy, tilidin and opium. Opioids are more than anything else in my "not more than once or twice a year" category, and i'd say that there's a lot of people who just can't keep usage that low. I don't mean these lists as "do these drugs, don't do these drugs", there's a ton of potentially nasty stuff on there.
I literally require such strong painkillers to operate daily. I remember switching to a new medication and not feeling sober for 2 whole weeks before the tolerance built up. Also winding down dosages is extremely hard, but necessary to prevent addiction if you're not in a lot of pain. It's so easy to just be like "I felt my shoulder twitch slightly, time to pop another pill". But I have to wind down the dosage so I don't end up with a drug addiction if/when my treatment works.
I'm sorry to hear that. I actually feel a bit bad now talking largely about recreational use. But yeah, i know what you mean with the twitchy shoulder thing. It's scary how the brain makes that connection between pain and drug.
Yeah it's scary, I accidentally outed myself as bi (I'm closeted irl) to a healthcare worker once while on the medication. I was so glad they weren't homophobic or anything, most people are where I live. I really hope there's a future where I'm pain free and don't have to be on this shit permanently, it was cool at first but now I just want to be "sober" if that makes sense
That makes perfect sense, and i get what you mean with the impulsive stuff, too. Sometimes there's just nothing you're afraid of anymore and ... that's not always a good thing. Hope there's something that helps you to be pain free one day!
Yeah it just removes all fear of consequences, really dangerous when you're around certain people
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Yeah, it's just a personal preference. A lot of people love how mystical and spiritual they feel, but i never really got into that. I like it when psychedelics feel really clear, when i can do crazy shit with my imagination or move around outdoors, and i find shrooms are more like "sit around and listen to what the mushroom tells you." That's just me, though, i've also met people who said that shrooms and LSD are basically the same to them, or people who find that they like shrooms more.
Definitely personal preference. I love shrooms and they've done more for me, medicinally and probably recreationally, than any other psychedelic including LSD.
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Only beer and wine from unionized breweries.
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MDMA is pretty cool and fairly safe if your souce is reliable. Cut it with Modafinil or an anti Alzheimers for some extra kick.
They're all bad unless you need em
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Acid, mushrooms, MDMA, and ketamine are my personal favorites, oh and weed of course