[lbo-talk] opium deaths?

[jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net]

> On Apr 21, 2005, at 6:53 PM, jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net wrote:
> 
> > As I wrote earlier it is the safest mind altering substance we know of.
> 
> What about nitrous oxide? Not toxic, but also not addictive. A little 
> easier to OD on, but again, that's only if you're using a mask without 
> supervision--not intrinsic to the drug.
> 
> 	John A

Kills brain cells by depriving them of oxygen. Long-term exposure to high 
concentrations of nitrous oxide may cause megaloblastic bone-marrow 
depression and neurological symptoms. N2O also affects white blood cell 
production and function. Many anaesthesiologists believe that the potential 
dangers of N2O are so great that it should no longer be used at all for routine 
clinical anaesthesia.
N2O induces opioid peptide release in the periaqueductal gray area of the 
midbrain. Better to just use opium.

John Thornton