phase_dancer
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2001
- Messages
- 6,179
This program really blew me away.
It featured those elderly Australians who are intend to plan their own death. While the subject itself is controversial enough, the program also showed a group of these people at a remote (bush?) location synthesizing their "drug of choice" - pentobarbital. Akin to some illicit drug manufacturers, the group setup a large array of apparatus and while reading from an recipe, proceeded through various stages of the synthesis to finally crystallise the barbiturate.
For the inexperienced, a typical synthesis for phenobarbital is fraught with dangers, particularly if adequate ventilation is not provided. A toxic cyanide compound is usually the starting material, and metallic sodium is also used. Mention was made by one of the clandestine 'chemists' on how important it is to keep the sodium mixture anhydrous. These people - none of whom appear to be chemists - plod along regardless of the risks and eventually all end up with a measured quantity of the drug, which each intends to keep until the time comes where they wish to end their life.
You can find the transcript of the program here
It featured those elderly Australians who are intend to plan their own death. While the subject itself is controversial enough, the program also showed a group of these people at a remote (bush?) location synthesizing their "drug of choice" - pentobarbital. Akin to some illicit drug manufacturers, the group setup a large array of apparatus and while reading from an recipe, proceeded through various stages of the synthesis to finally crystallise the barbiturate.
For the inexperienced, a typical synthesis for phenobarbital is fraught with dangers, particularly if adequate ventilation is not provided. A toxic cyanide compound is usually the starting material, and metallic sodium is also used. Mention was made by one of the clandestine 'chemists' on how important it is to keep the sodium mixture anhydrous. These people - none of whom appear to be chemists - plod along regardless of the risks and eventually all end up with a measured quantity of the drug, which each intends to keep until the time comes where they wish to end their life.
You can find the transcript of the program here