Buzz
Sensationalized news stories have always spread rapidly, but drug-related tales seem to be among the most widely circulated. These myths gain traction because they evoke fear, and fear spreads quickly. Yet, the reality behind many of these stories is far from what we often hear. The risks of drugs can be explained truthfully without exaggeration, and honesty should always take precedence. Follow along as we debunk some of the more outlandish myths surrounding illegal drugs.
10. Krokodil and Flesh Decay
By now, you've likely heard about a new drug named krokodil, which is becoming increasingly popular in the Russian drug scene as an affordable substitute for heroin. Some reports claim that this drug is far more addictive than heroin and causes your flesh to rot off, leading to a gruesome death. Certain U.S. news outlets have even suggested that this drug has made its way to the U.S., fueling the frenzy even more.
Krokodil is simply the street name for a drug that addicts attempt to make using codeine and household chemicals, known as desomorphine. Heroin is illegal in Russia, but codeine is sold over the counter, making it easily accessible. Many news reports suggest that the drug itself is to blame for the necrosis, but this is far from the truth. Desomorphine was patented in Switzerland in the 1930s for pain relief, and there is no evidence linking it to the rotting of flesh.
But aren’t people actually experiencing flesh rot? What’s causing it? The process involves various household chemicals, and most people don’t make pure desomorphine. Since little research has been done on the subject, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Russia lacks official needle exchange programs, and diseases like AIDS spread rapidly through this method. The necrosis could also be due to the use of dirty needles. Additionally, it’s unlikely the drug will become popular in the U.S. since codeine isn’t sold over the counter here, which is a major reason why people attempt to make desomorphine.
9. Drug Testing
For employers who want to ensure their employees are free of drugs, the solution is simple—have them take a drug test. While some tests offer instant results, others require sending the sample to a lab, but either way, you’ll get your answer. If you’re a potential employee seeking to prove your drug-free status, you can be assured of a clean slate. Many people trust the reliability of modern drug tests so much that certain U.S. states have even passed laws mandating that welfare recipients take a drug test.
Unfortunately, drug tests are often unreliable. Researchers have found that these tests can produce false positives as often as 10 percent of the time, and false negatives occur just as frequently. Consuming even a small amount of poppy seeds can trigger a false positive, yet many doctors are unaware of this possibility. The studies also revealed that cold medicines, allergy medications, antidepressants, certain antibiotics, and even HIV medications can cause false positives for illegal drug use. On the other hand, many tests don’t cover every drug, and oxycodone, in particular, is frequently missed entirely.
8. The Perils of Crack
A common misconception is that crack cocaine is significantly more dangerous than powdered cocaine. This myth likely originated from severe laws that made possession of crack much worse than possessing regular cocaine. For years, U.S. law imposed a 100:1 sentencing ratio, meaning that if you were caught with crack, you would face a punishment equivalent to possessing 100 times that amount of cocaine.
It turns out there is no substantial difference between crack and regular cocaine, aside from the fact that crack is made for smoking. Crack isn’t some ancient, malevolent substance that emerged from the depths of history to destroy humanity. It’s simply a process where baking soda, water, and heat are used to strip the hydrochloride from cocaine, making the final product easier to smoke from a pipe. While we’re not advocating for the use of illegal drugs (which is wrong) or claiming that cocaine is safe (it most certainly isn’t), the sentencing discrepancies seem far more severe compared to the relative dangers of the two forms of the drug. Despite a recent law aimed at ending unjust sentencing, crack is still legally regarded as nearly 20 times worse than cocaine.
7. Stuffed Dead Baby
According to the legend, a couple was flying with their baby when the flight attendant began to grow suspicious. The baby wasn’t making any of the usual sounds or smells that babies often do. After landing, the parents were confronted by law enforcement, who decided to investigate the baby further. Upon closer inspection, they discovered the baby’s organs had been removed, and the body was filled with drugs, almost like a gruesome version of a piñata.
This story is deeply disturbing and draws attention to the darker aspects of humanity. These kinds of tales spread quickly and are commonly used to highlight the dangers of drug smuggling. However, the truth is that the story, which has been told in various forms over the years, is entirely unfounded. Though it occasionally appears in some news outlets, there has never been any verified instance of such an event, and no one has been able to identify the airport where it allegedly took place. Furthermore, these stories are always presented as anecdotes from anonymous law enforcement officers, with no verifiable details that a journalist could independently confirm.
6. The Orange Juice Man
The tale of the orange juice man exists in several variations, but they all share similar core details. The story typically begins with a man deciding to purchase an entire sheet of LSD on blotter paper for reasons unknown. In some versions, he runs through a sprinkler, in others, he’s thrown into a pool, and some claim he simply gets incredibly sweaty. Regardless of the version, the key point is that all the LSD is absorbed through his skin, and he subsequently believes he has transformed into a glass of orange juice. From that moment on, he fears that he might spill, become drunk, or be peeled by someone if he’s not careful — and is left permanently insane as a result.
Although LSD can cause hallucinations that may lead to bizarre thoughts during a trip, there’s absolutely no evidence to suggest that taking too much of it even once can result in permanent insanity. Moreover, this particular tale doesn’t serve as an effective scare tactic. Any LSD user would find it unrelatable, as they’re unlikely to be walking around with an entire sheet of acid in their pocket. As for the orange juice man, no credible evidence exists to suggest that such an event ever actually took place.
5. MDMA Brain Holes
Anti-drug campaigns have long warned that MDMA, also called ecstasy, can cause brain damage, claiming that it will put holes in your brain. A study conducted about ten years ago on monkeys was supposedly proof that a single night of ecstasy use could result in significant, irreversible damage to the brain.
However, it turns out the study was not only deeply flawed but was completely invalidated. Recently, Dr. Ricaurte, who conducted the research, admitted that he hadn’t actually used ecstasy on the monkeys at all. Instead, he had mistakenly given them methamphetamine. This blunder not only led to the dismissal of his MDMA study, but it also sabotaged four other research projects. It seems Dr. Ricaurte has a history of conducting studies that depict almost every drug as highly dangerous, and even his supporters have criticized him for being 'sloppy' in his work.
4. Bath Salts Turn People Into Cannibals
Not too long ago in Florida, a man went into a full zombie-like state and attempted to chew off another man's face while allegedly under the influence of bath salts. This led to a media frenzy, with bath salts being labeled as the most dangerous new designer drug, sparking reports of similar bath salt-induced madness across the country.
However, it was later revealed that the only substance in the face eater’s system was marijuana, and his violent attack was simply the result of him being insane. The fact is, there’s no evidence to support the idea that bath salts cause psychosis. Bath salts are synthetic stimulants, and some users have described the high as comparable to ecstasy. This drug doesn’t really live up to the wild claims made about it.
3. Bananadine
The story goes that you can get high from bananas, but it involves a rather complicated process. First, you need to gather 7 kilograms (15 lbs) of bananas, then peel them and scrape out the insides. You’re supposed to take these scrapings, boil them for several hours, spread the resulting concoction onto a cookie sheet, and bake it in the oven. Once this is done, you can supposedly smoke the mixture to get high.
The 'bananadine' recipe first made its appearance in The Anarchist Cookbook. It was meant to be a humorous prank, and bananas certainly don't have any properties that could get you high. The book's author, William Powell, wrote it during a time of intense frustration with the world. However, years later, Powell wished the book would be removed from circulation. But, since the publisher owns the rights, Powell’s wishes were ignored, and we can expect to see people attempting to smoke bananas for years to come.
2. Drink Spiking
A commonly held belief is that if you’re in a bar—particularly if you’re a woman—you should vigilantly guard your drink. The concern is that someone might slip a date rape drug, such as rohpynol, into your beverage and take advantage of you. Many people believe that this is a frequent event, and various methods have been developed to protect drinks from being tampered with.
To clarify, we are not suggesting that date rape doesn’t occur or that it’s acceptable to exploit someone in an altered state. However, a study of 200 students at Kent University (UK) found that many students who believed a date rape drug was responsible for their problems had simply consumed alcohol. Additionally, an Australian study followed almost 100 individuals who visited hospitals claiming their drinks had been spiked over a 19-month period. The results showed that not a single person had ingested anything other than alcohol. It seems that many people don’t recognize just how incapacitating alcohol can be and how much danger it can put them in.
1. The DEA mocks drug users with a taunting message.
Back in 2002, rumors circulated about the DEA putting up billboards across the country that read, 'If you think it’s dry now, wait till next month.' This was said to be a warning about a shortage of marijuana supply, signaling that the DEA would soon crack down on marijuana use. However, it turns out this message was more of an urban legend that would surface whenever marijuana supplies were low, especially during hot summer months. Contrary to the rumor, no such billboards were ever placed, as it would be counterproductive for law enforcement to announce their plans in advance.
As it turns out, this story only appeared when marijuana supplies were running low, and it often surfaced in the summertime. There was never any truth to these billboards existing. After all, why would a law enforcement agency publicize their intentions for a major crackdown?
