Do "drugs" that make people dizzy upon smelling them, and "drinks" that make people pass out after just one glass of it really exist?

Expert of this article: Wang Xiaohuan, Doctor of Medicine, Fudan University

Whether it is costume TV dramas or news reports about crimes committed by some criminals, "drugs" can often be seen.

As people's safety awareness increases, everyone is very concerned about whether there is a "drug" that can make people pass out as soon as they smell it.

In addition, there are "drinks" that can make people fall asleep after just one glass.

Can you tell from the appearance of a drink that has been drugged? For safety reasons, you must read this article carefully.

What are the “drugs”?

"Drugs", as the name suggests, are a type of drug that can cause the user to become comatose or lose consciousness.

There are many kinds of "drugs" and they are called variously, including "obedient water", "good boy water", "magic water", "rape powder", etc. There are also various types, including spray type, volatile type, cigarette type, liquid contact type, powder contact type, etc. Therefore, the means used by criminals to commit crimes are also varied. "Drugging" through drinks, food, and cigarettes is a relatively common method.

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The more common ingredients of "drugs" include triazolam (a Class I psychotropic drug controlled in my country), flunitrazepam (a Class II psychotropic drug controlled in my country), GHB (a Class I psychotropic drug controlled in my country), ketamine (a Class I psychotropic drug controlled in my country), etc.

After taking this type of drug, it can inhibit the central nervous system, causing rapid coma and fainting.

Does the "drug" that makes people faint as soon as they smell it really exist?

There is no such thing as a drug that will make you faint as soon as you smell it.

Inhaled drugs or anesthetics generally enter the body through the respiratory tract, then reach the blood, cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain, and cause the patient to fall into a coma.

Among inhalation anesthetics, sevoflurane and ether have better anesthesia effects.

Sevoflurane is an inhaled general anesthetic and a high-risk controlled drug in hospitals. Compared with ether, sevoflurane has a better anesthetic effect. However, even an "anesthesia expert" like sevoflurane cannot achieve the effect of "fainting at the first smell".

Generally speaking, two necessary conditions for anesthetics to be effective are a sufficiently high anesthetic concentration and a sufficiently long anesthesia time.

● Take sevoflurane as an example. In clinical practice, when a high concentration of 8% sevoflurane is used for anesthesia induction, it will take at least 40 seconds for the patient to gradually lose consciousness while wearing a well-sealed mask, not to mention in an open outdoor environment. Therefore, the claim that the drug will make people faint as soon as they smell it is indeed an exaggeration.

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But it is worth noting that although there is no drug that can make you pass out as soon as you smell it, drugs that can make you pass out as soon as you drink it do exist.

Taking the new drug GHB as an example, its main ingredient is γ-hydroxybutyric acid, a powerful sedative that has a strong inhibitory effect on the central nervous system.

It is colorless, tasteless and easily soluble in water. It is difficult to be detected when put into alcoholic beverages, so it may be exploited by criminals.

Please be reminded that you should be cautious when drinking alcoholic beverages from unfamiliar sources or when they have left your sight.

Are the anesthetics used in surgery also “drugs”?

Commonly used sedative anesthetics in surgical anesthesia include fentanyl, remifentanil, sufentanil, morphine, ketamine, etc.

From a medical perspective, the anesthetics and drugs used in surgery have one thing in common, that is, they are both sedatives that paralyze the nerves and cause a person to temporarily lose consciousness. However, the use of anesthetics in surgery is very strict and cautious.

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Surgical anesthesia is not as simple as just giving an injection and making the patient faint. Successful anesthesia is an important part of ensuring the success of the operation. The anesthesia method, the choice of anesthetics, the dosage of anesthetics and other aspects require the anesthesiologist to accurately control according to the different conditions of each patient.

The day before the operation, the anesthesiologist will conduct a preoperative visit to the patient, remind the patient of precautions in advance, and also check the patient's condition on the day of the operation.

Taking general anesthesia as an example, the anesthesia process is divided into three steps: anesthesia induction, anesthesia maintenance, and anesthesia awakening:

● During the anesthesia induction phase, the anesthesiologist will insert a tube through the patient's mouth and into the throat to maintain the patient's breathing.

● During the anesthesia maintenance process, the anesthesiologist will always monitor the patient's physical condition and adjust the anesthetic in time.

● After awakening from anesthesia, the anesthesiologist will stop the anesthesia and inject the patient with certain analgesics (mainly including propofol, etomidate and midazolam, etc.), and then wake the patient up after he or she has spontaneous breathing.

Therefore, the risks of administering anesthetics during surgery cannot be underestimated, but under the "escort" of the anesthesiologist, anesthesia becomes safer and more comfortable.

Is surgical anesthesia harmful?

"Is surgical anesthesia harmful?" "Will anesthesia affect memory?" These are the questions that patients have most.

There are indeed some temporary sequelae after anesthesia, such as nausea and vomiting, headache, memory loss, etc. However, these symptoms will generally be alleviated after a period of time.

Because anesthesia is a method of suppressing pain by inhibiting the patient's central nervous system, this inhibitory effect is short-term and reversible.

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After a period of time, the anesthetic in the body will be metabolized by the body and will not cause much impact on the body. Moreover, the anesthesiologist will supervise the entire anesthesia surgery process, closely monitor various vital signs, and constantly adjust the amount of anesthetic according to the patient's physical reaction and surgical needs. Therefore, we do not need to worry too much about the impact of anesthetics on the body.

What are the precautions for anesthesia surgery?

● Detailed description of the situation

Before the anesthesia surgery, the anesthesiologist will ask the patient in detail about the specific condition, including whether he smokes, drinks, medication history, surgical history and drug allergy history, etc. The patient should cooperate with the doctor and inform him of his entire condition.

● Follow the doctor's advice

Before the operation, the doctor will conduct a preoperative visit to the patient and remind the patient of precautions, including taking a bath before the operation, trimming nails, removing hair at the surgical site, and not drinking or eating, etc. Therefore, you must strictly follow the doctor's instructions and make careful preoperative preparations.

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● Proper care

The period immediately after the operation is also a critical one. Family members should closely monitor the patient's condition and turn the patient's head to one side before the patient wakes up to prevent choking on saliva or vomit. If any abnormality is found in the instrument monitoring vital signs, the doctor should be notified in time and appropriate emergency measures should be prepared.

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