Accidental poisonings are nothing new, and neither is trying to treat them at home. However, there is a problem with many historic and new self-treatment methods: they may cause more harm than the poison someone touched or ingested. In this article, we're going over common DIY treatments for poisonings and…
“Bet you’ve never heard this happen before!” Poison Centers across America are open all day, seven days a week, to take calls about potential poisonings. Callers often begin with the quote above, but believe it or not, many situations are common even if they don’t feel like it in the…
We often associate diseases like dysentery with the pioneers of old. Seldom do we hear stories like that happening in the 21st century. This is because of a major US public health initiative to disinfect public water supplies with chlorine. But is it completely safe? Isn’t chlorine toxic? It’s a…
Overview Long relegated to the rear-view mirror of drug trends, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms," have made a strong comeback in the last 5 years. Psilocybin and psilocybin mushrooms were placed on Schedule 1 under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, de facto defining them as having a…
The war on drugs began in many of our lifetimes. "Magic mushrooms," or mushrooms containing the psychedelic chemical psilocybin, continue to be surrounded by the negative stigma garnered back in the 1960s. As new research emerges suggesting the potential for psychedelics to treat a variety of mental ailments, will we…
What is moonshine? Moonshine is a type of alcohol that has roots in illegal sales and production, but may be legally distilled today depending on location. Improper home distillation may produce methanol, which is dangerous to consume. Modern day moonshine is categorized as unaged whiskey usually with a base of…
We’ve all seen the little dietary supplements at gas stations: the ones that are supposed to give you energy while driving or improve your immune system. But some dietary supplements aren’t what they seem. Clever packaging allows drugs that elicit mood-altering responses to hide amidst the gas station shelves. What…
Although carbon monoxide (CO) is universally recognized as a toxic gas, it continues to cause tens of thousands of unintentional, non-fire-related exposures in the US every year. True, it is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, so its presence is not easily detected without a special air monitor. However, many people are…
What is ketamine? Ketamine is an anesthetic with high therapeutic and misuse potential. It may produce psychedelic effects at certain doses. It’s used to induce anesthesia, aid treatment-resistant depression, pain management, and treat addiction. Ketamine targets the NMDA receptor in the brain, which is responsible for things like memory and…
