Trials of new drugs
A small group psychonauts' experiments with full-called designer drugs. About how these chemical compounds is still very little known. "It's Russian roulette."
by Dewi Gigengack
They are voluntary guinea pig and use the Internet as an ongoing study project is complemented by experiences, warnings and tips. People who are experimenting with designer drugs, or "research chemicals" as they prefer to call themselves the fabrics, represent a distinct subculture among drug users.
Designer drugs are chemical compounds that aim at the effects of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines (speed) or mescaline to imitate. When a popular recreational drug Ecstasy was the early nineties, came the phenomenon of 'designer drug' on the rise. The pioneer in this field, the American chemist Alexander Shulgin. He created hundreds of designer drugs, tested them on himself and wrote two books about it. Today, these drugs mainly in Britain and the United States invented ('designed'), under the Opium Act to come. New substances are not on the list of banned substances in those countries and thus legal.
In the Netherlands it is different, you know drug researcher Peter van Dijk of the Trimbos Institute. "Here are resources that have a psychoactive effect under the Medicines Act. They are considered non-registered funds and are therefore illegal. Designer drugs in the Netherlands therefore much less popular than in England, for example. "Yet it is not hard avoiding them. "If you know where to look, dozens of types of research chemicals easily available via Internet," says the 38-year-old Gonzo from The Hague. "They are frequently sold as bonzaivoeding, CD cleaner or an aroma oil burner. It is often that it is not intended for human consumption. "
The Trimbos Institute has a list of some 150 substances with which the Netherlands are experimenting. But a common phenomenon, not designer drugs. According to drug experts Roel Kerssemakers of information organization and Unity Jellinek Drug addiction is the majority of users in the Netherlands means known as ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis. "If they exist, the need for other means small. Once the ecstasy market is bad and hard to get resources, you see that other substances sold as ecstasy. Last week, there is a 19-year-old boy from Heerlen deceased to fake ecstasy. There was PMMA in the pill, a substance with a similar effect. But the sneaky PMMA is slowing down. You take a pill even more quickly. And the difference between a recreational dose and a lethal dose is small. "
To the dismay of the Trimbos Institute, there is still a group of people with the relatively unknown chemicals to get started. "They're just stupid busy," says Van Dijk. "It's Russian roulette. You do not know what the risks are, because they are all new substances which not much is known. "
The 'psychonauts', people who are extremely interested in drugs, a different view. "I do research first, take time," says the 19-year old student Sublimo. He experimented at least once a week, besides the 'standard drugs, such as speed. "Generally it goes well, especially if you know which websites deliver decent stuff. Sometimes if you have something bad experiences. "Gonzo prepares for by" trip reports "of others to read, which they describe how much it means, what the effect is, how long it works and what the correct dose. "I do it in a responsible way and let the first test means a drug test center. There is always a "trip sitter" with, someone who stay sober and keep an eye on things. We do not at parties, but at someone's home or in the dunes. "
The fascination for new types of drugs, according Kerssemakers partly explained by the fact that the effect of hallucinogens can vary widely. "By energizing and soothing substances, there is little variety. But a trip can do this hallucinating, or that you are in deep contact with yourself or feel that you rise above your body. "People who are experimenting, searching especially for those differences."
With all the experimentation going there was something wrong. Like Solipsis, on an Internet forum describing how he ended up in hospital after a cocktail of designer drugs. "A while back I had 4-AcO-DMT combined with methylone. That same day I had already taken some GHB. When methylone and 4-AcO-DMT were quite prepared, I had a panic attack. "He thought he was barely breathing and was afraid. "Not long before I had taken half a painkiller with codeine in it, because I suffered from my back. I thought I did something wrong and that this combination was dangerous. "
The boy went to the pit, where he was detained overnight. "Blood was taken and my heart was monitored. It turned out that I do not breathe enough, but hyperventilating. "He thought he would die. "A rather chilling feeling I can say."
Ernst, a 44-year old ICT staff from the north of the country, like to take hallucinogens well to dose and predictable. "Also because I have a responsible life: married, two kids, busy job. About once a month, my wife and I have a weekend off and take a tour agent. Enjoy each other more at home. "
Van Dijk believes that designer drugs will always remain, even if only a limited group of people interested in it. "The funds come and go. People hope that a dust is the same effect as ecstasy, but without the hangover and legally. That is a utopia. "
The names of the users are fictitious for privacy reasons.
