Sodium pentotal - a drug that contains psychoactive substances that affect the mind. Under their action, a person speaks the truth. Pentothal sodium - what is it and what does it consist of?
Initially, this drug was used for anesthesia, since the constituent substances are able to slow down the neuronal activity of the central nervous system. In the right doses, the drug causes drowsiness, and with an overdose it can be fatal.
The truth serum contains many substances. This is not one drug, but different ones that are combined into one group.
Appearance story
Sodium Pentothal began its history in 1913. One doctor, while giving birth at home, administered scopolamine to a patient. At that time, this substance was widely used as an anesthetic. After giving birth, the doctor asked for scales to weigh the baby, but the woman’s husband could not find them, and he shouted: “Where are these scales?”, To which the woman clearly answered that they were “in the kitchen, behind the picture”, despite the fact that was in a semi-conscious state. The obstetrician did not immediately understand what happened, but when the man brought the scales and said that they were in exactly the place indicated by the wife, the doctor realized that the substance had such an effect. After using scopolamine, the development of other drugs that can suppress the central nervous system and cause truthful answers to the questions posed began.
Now in the arsenal of institutions that need to receive the truth from the interrogated, there are the following "truthful" substances:
- scopolamine;
- sodium pentothal;
- mescaline;
- anabazine and others.
After the Texas incident, “truth preparations” began to be used during interrogation of criminals. The first test was a prisoner from Dallas. The results were overwhelming. Subsequently, the drug was decided to improve, creating a "serum of truth."
Scopolamine as the main substance of truth
Serum of Truth is based on scopolamine. This is an alkaloid obtained from plants of the nightshade family (dope, nightshade, henbane, etc.) Scopolamine is a white powder, easily soluble in liquid.
With the introduction of the drug, the pupils dilate, the heart rate quickens, smooth muscles relax, and perspiration decreases. Scopolamine also has a sedative and hypnotic effect. After its use, all people have amnesia.
Sodium Thiopental
This preparation is a mixture of thiobarbituric acid with sodium carbonate, ethyl and sodium salt. It has an anticonvulsant effect, greatly relaxes the muscles, blocks the impulses of the central nervous system. Also, the substance has a hypnotic effect, changes the structure of sleep. With the right dosage, it can inhibit the respiratory center, reducing sensitivity to carbon dioxide.
Mescaline
In the last century, the substance mescaline was popular. It was obtained from a cactus. Initially, mescaline was used by the Indians to obtain the truth during the rite of repentance. In the United States, they became interested in them and began to use them to suppress their will and obtain information from prisoners. The experiments were carried out in concentration camps.
Serum Use Today
Nowadays, thiopental sodium (pentotal) is not used in judicial investigations. "Serum of truth" is prohibited for use not only for ethical reasons, but also for other reasons.
This is the appearance of hallucinations after the introduction of substances. Often when using the “serum of truth”, the suspects did not tell the truth, but what they thought. Because of the action of psycho-substance on the brain, hallucinations arose, which some people perceived as reality. And when answering questions, they did not speak the truth, but described their visions.
It is difficult to choose the right dosage of the substance. Even the most experienced specialists can not always determine the required amount for the interrogated to tell the truth.
An overdose is fatal.
Despite the fact that many countries of the world still resort to the "serum of truth", it did not become widely used. Usually it is used in extreme cases. The last recorded use of the substance during interrogation was recorded in 2008.
Some people are looking for the answer to the question of how to make pentotal sodium with their own hands. No way. It is a complex chemical.
Now sodium pentothal is just a drug from the cinema, in which "truth serum" is used during interrogations. In reality, its use did not produce the desired results, so it was abandoned, although some countries rarely use it. However, under the influence of sodium pentotal, it is easy for a person to suggest any information. Subsequently, he perceives it as a reality, as if all that was said to him was happening. Because of this, in America they refused to use the substance, and everything that was said under the influence of the sodium preparation pentotal is not evidence of the defendant's guilt.