Lethal Dose

Before the sarin gas attacks in 1995, the cult members of Aum Shinrikyo were busy experimenting with biochemical warfare agents at the direction of their leader, Shoko Asahara.

(1) Kaplan, D. E.; Marshall, A. The Cult at the End of the World; Crown Publishers, Inc., 1996.

(2) Gunaratna, R. Aum Shinrikyo's Rise, Fall and Revival. Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses 2018, 10 (8), 1-6.

(3) Metraux, D. A. Religious Terrorism in Japan: The Appeal of Aum Shinrikyo. Asian Survey 1995, 35 (12).

(4) Tucker, J. B. War of Nerves: Chemical Warfare from World War I to Al-Qaeda; Pantheon Books, 2006.

(5) Pollack, A. Japanese Police Find Body of a Lawyer Believed Killed by Cult. The New York Times, 07 Sep 1995, 1995.

(6) Saxena, K. Clinical features and management of poisoning due to potassium chloride. Med Toxicol Adverse Drug Exp 1989, 4 (6), 429-443.

(7) U.S. Army Activity in the U.S. Biological Warfare Programs. Army, Ed.; 1977; Vol. I.

(8) Goel, A. K. Anthrax: A disease of biowarfare and public health importance. World J Clin Cases 2015, 3 (1), 20-33.

(9) Webb, G. F. A silent bomb: The risk of anthrax as a weapon of mass destruction. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2003, 100 (8), 4355-4356.

(10) Anthrax. Mayo Clinic, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anthrax/symptoms-causes/syc-20356203(accessed 2022 25 Oct 2022).

(11) Keim, P.; Smith, K. L.; Keys, C.; Takahashi, H.; Kurata, T.; Kaufmann, A. Molecular investigation of the Aum Shinrikyo anthrax release in Kameido, Japan. J Clin Microbiol 2001, 39 (12), 4566-4567.

(12) Clinical Framework and Medical Countermeasure Use During an Anthrax Mass-Casualty Incident; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6404.pdf.

We're wrapping up this month's cyanide series with the 1986 murders of Sue Snow and Bruce Nickell by tainted Excedrin. For more information on cyanide in product tampering, check out the Chicago Tylenol Murders on Patreon. Or you can just listen to this episode and we'll touch on it a bit, too. You do you. Just be nice to others.

(1) Olson, G. Bitter Almonds: The True Story of Mothers, Daughters, and the Seattle Cyanide Murders; St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2006.

(2) Turner, W. Cyanide Death Halts the Sale of Excedrin Capsules. The New York Times, 18 Jun 1986, 1986.

(3) Poisoned Excedrin Suspected in 2d Seattle Death. The New York Times, 19 Jun 1986, 1986, 28.

(4) Donahan, R. S02:E11 - Something's Fishy. In Forensic Files, 1997.

(5) Seattle Jurors Indict Woman in Cyanide Poisoning Deaths. The New York Times, 10 Dec 1987, 1987, 23.

(6) Poison Pill Trial Winding to Close. The New York Times, 01 May 1988, 1988, 29.

(7) Sentence of 90 Years Imposed in 2 Deaths by Tainted Capsules. The New York Times, 18 June 1988, 1988.

(8) O.C. Woman Gets Big Reward in Mom's Conviction. In Los Angeles Times, latimes.com, 1990.

(9) Carter, M. Stella Nickell, serving 90 years for planting poisoned pills, killing 2, seeks release from prison. In The Seattle Times, seattletimes.com, 2022.

(10) Carter, M. Judge won't release WA woman serving 90 years for planting poisoned pills. In Yakima Herald-Public, yakimaherald.com, 2022.

In the second episode of our cyanide series, we talk about the rise and fall of Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple, a cult that ended in a massacre of 918 people in 1978 in Jonestown, Guyana, South America.

(1) Guinn, J. The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple; Simon & Schuster, 2017.

(2) Layton, D. Seductive Poison: a Jonestown survivor's story of life and death in the Peoples Temple; Anchor Books, 1998.

(3) Nelson, S. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple. In American Experience, PBS: 2007.

(4) Kilduff, M.; Tracy, P. Inside Peoples Temple. In New West, 1977; pp 30-38.

(5) Truth and Lies: Jonestown, Paradise Lost. Hulu: 2018.

(6) Rittenmeyer, N. Jonestown: The Women Behind the Massacre. A&E: 2018.

(7) Moore, A. Memo from Annie Moore. Jones, J., Ed.; Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple: jonestown.sdsu.edu, 1978.

(8) Chaikin, P. Phyllis Chaikin on Revolutionary Suicide. Jones, J., Ed.; Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple: jonestown.sdsu.edu, 1978.

(9) Scheeres, J. The Jonestown Doctor Works Out How to Kill Everyone With Cyanide. In Newsweek, newsweek.com, 2021.

(10) Schacht, L. Larry Schacht Memo to Jim Jones. Jones, J., Ed.; Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple: jonestown.sdsu.edu, 1978.

(11) Jones, J. Q 289. Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple: 1978.

(12) Moore, A. Annie Moore Memo to Jim Jones, November 5, 1978. Jones, J., Ed.; Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple: jonestown.sdsu.edu, 1978.

(13) Kidron, A.; Nguyen, H. Phenothiazine; Treasure Island, 2022.

(14) Medical Management of Chemical Casualties. Office, C. C. C., Ed.; U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense: Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland 21010, 1995.

(15) Graham, J.; Traylor, J. Cyanide Toxicity; StatPearls [Internet], 2022.

(16) Vidal, D. Jones's Son, in a Mocking Tone, Tells Court He Slew 4 in Family. The New York Times, 19 Dec, 1978.

(17) Baselt, R. C. Cyanide. In Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, 2nd ed.; Biomedical Publications, 1982.

(18) Bell, F. Larry Layton and the Peoples Temple: Twenty-Five Years Later. Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple, 2013. https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=16973(accessed 27 Sep 2022).

(19) Greiser, M. M. Understanding Cult Membership: Beyond "Drinking the Kool-Aid". Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple, 2019. https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=93938(accessed 27 Sep 2022).

(20) Woollett, L. E. The C-word: What are we saying when we talk about cults? In The Guardian, theguardian.com, 2018.

In this episode, we're covering the use of the cyanide-containing pesticide Zyklon B by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Shit gets heavy.

(1) Atkinson, J. Ethnic cleansing in Roman Alexandria in 38. Acta Classica 2006, 49, 31-54.

(2) Jeffreys, D. Hell's Cartel; Bloomsbury, 2009.

(3) Hayes, P. From Cooperation to Complicity: Degussa in the Third Reich; Cambridge University Press, 2004.

(4) Friedlander, H. The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution; The University of North Carolina Press, 1995.

(5) Begen, D. L. War & Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust; Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2009.

(6) Shirer, W. L. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich; Simon and Schuster, 1960.

This episode continues our overarching history of arsenic and covers the on-going mass poisoning of groundwater in Bangladesh that was first identified in 1978 or 1983.

(1) Meharg, A. A. Venomous Earth; Macmillan, 2005.

(2) Carey, M.; Meharg, C.; Meharg, A. A.; Williams, P.; Marwa, E.; Jiujin, X.; Farias, J. G.; De Silva, P. M. C. S.; Signes-Pastor, A.; Lu, Y.; et al. Global sourcing of low-inorganic arsenic rice grain. Exposure and Health 2019, 12, 711-719.

(3) Study identifies better, cheaper ways to stem arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. In Phys Org, phys.org, 2019.

(4) Win, T. L. Can technology help Bangladesh end mass arsenic poisoning? In Reuters, reuters.com, 2017.

(5) Flanagan, S. V.; Johnston, R. B.; Zheng, Y. Arsenic in tube well water in Bangladesh: health and economic impacts and implications for arsenic mitigation. Bull World Health Organ 2012, 90, 839-846.

(6) Boissoneault, L. The Cuyahoga River Caught Fire at Least a Dozen Times, but No One Cared Until 1969. In Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine: smithsonianmag.com, 2019.

(7) E., R. R. O. Geochemistry of trace elements in the Bolivian Altoplano - Effects of natural processes and anthropogenic activities. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, diva-portal.org, 2014.

(8) Raessler, M. The arsenic contamination of drinking and groundwaters in Bangladesh: Featuring biogeochemical aspects and implications on public health. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2018, 75 (1), 1-7.

(9) Mozumder, R.; Michael, H.; Knappett, P.; Van Geen, A. Origin of arsenic in Bangladesh groundwater. In Science X, sciencex.com, 2020.

(10) Bangladesh: 20 Million Drink Arsenic-Laced Water. In Human Rights Watch, hrw.org, 2016.

(11) Mohan, M. When water hides an invisible threat: The scars of arsenic poisoning in Nepal, and hope for new 'change-makers'. In CNA, channelnewsasia.com, 2022.

(12) New water filter to combat arsenic poisoning. In The New Humanitarian, thenewhumanitarian.org, 2008.

(13) Lentils to battle arsenic poisoning from Bangladesh well water in new study. In CBC, cbc.ca, 2016.

(14) Pearshouse, R. Nepotism and neglect: The failing response to arsenic in the drinking water of Bangladesh's rural poor. In Human Rights Watch, hrw.org, 2016.

(15) Al-Masum Molla, M. Arsenic Contamination in Water: No proper study done in years. In The Daily Star, thedailystar.net, 2021.

(16) Pearshouse, R. The Politics of Arsenic-free Water. In Human Rights Watch, hrw.org, 2017.

This episode is a deep-dive into a purgative that has withstood the test of time, for better or for worse. To demonstrate the dangers of ipecac in the wrong hands, Kayla tells Venus about the 1994 trials of Christina Rubio for the attempted murder of her daughter and the murder of her son. Trigger warnings for discussion of child abuse and death, and for discussion of eating disorders.

(1) Dioscorides, P. De Materia Medica. In Being an Herbal with Many Other Medicinal Materials, IBIDIS Press: Johannesburg, 2000.

(2) Zarzo, I.; Boselli, P.; Soriano, J. History of slimming diets up to the late 1950s. Obesities 2022, 2 (2), 115-126.

(3) McCallum, R. Observations upon Antimony. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. 1977, 70, 756-763.

(4) Kang, L.; Pedersen, N. Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything; Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 2017.

(5) Whorton, J. The phenolphthalein follies: Purgation and the pleasure principle in the early twentieth century. Pharm in Hist 1993, 35 (1), 3-24.

(6) Danger of purgatives. BMJ 1961, 2 (5268), 1694-1695.

(7) Armstrong, R.; Crisp, A.; Grahame, R.; Woolf, D. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and purgative abuse. BMJ 1981, 282, 1836.

(8) Clinicopathological conference: A case of purgative addiction. BMJ 1966, 1 (5499), 1344-1348.

(9) Ashton, R.; LeBlanc, C. The poisonous past: Circe, Helvetius, Touery, and a brief history of emergency decontamination. DMJ 2010, 37 (1), 29-31.

(10) Mondal, S.; Moktan, S. A paradoxically significant medicinal plant Carapichea ipecacuanha: A review. Indian J Pharm Edu Res 2020, 54, S56-S66.

(11) Ipecac - don't use it. Poison Control, https://www.poison.org/articles/ipecac-do-not-use-it#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Food%20and%20Drug,stock%20ipecac%20syrup%20at%20home. (accessed 2022 25 May 2022).

(12) Hornbacher, M. Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia; HarperPerennial, 1999.

(13) Benzoni, T.; Gibson, J. Ipecac; StatPearls Publishing, 2021.

(14) Diliberto, G. Karen Carpenter Was Killed by an Over-the-Counter Drug Some Doctors Say May Be Killing Many Others. In People, Meredith Corporation: people.com, 1985.

(15) Position statement: Ipecac syrup. J of Tox: Clin Tox 1997, 35 (7), 699-709.

(16) Ipecac syrup; warnings and directions for use for over-the-counter sale. In Title 21, Volume 4, FDA, Ed.; U.S. Food & Drug Administration: accessdata.fda.gov, 2022; Vol. 21CFR201.308.

(17) G.W., R. AAP Releases Policy Statement on Poison Treatment in the Home. In Am Fam Physician, American Family Physician: aafp.org, 2004; Vol. 69, pp 741-742.

(18) Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fatally Poisoning Son. In AP News, apnews.com, 1994.

(19) Woman charged two years after son died. In Tampa Bay Times, tampabay.com, 1993.

(20) Pittman, C. Blame gets spread in Munchausen case. In Tampa Bay Times, tampabay.com, 1994.

(21) Salamone, D. Mother receives 15-year probation in girl's poisoning. In Orlando Sentinel, orlandosentinel.com, 1994.

(22) Dinis-Oliviera, R. J.; Magalhães, T. Children intoxications: What is abuse and what is not abuse. Trauma, Violence & Abuse 2013, 14 (2), 113-132.

In 2007, there was a large-scale poisoning of babies from drinking tainted milk powder in China, which was covered up by government officials and dairy industry executives. This wasn't the first time melamine was used as an artificial protein in a food source, and, unfortunately, it also wasn't the last.

1. Branigan, T. Chinese figures show fivefold rise in babies sick from contaminated milk The Gaurdian [Online], 2008. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/02/china (accessed 19 Apr 2022).

2. Branigan, T. Three die in tainted baby milk scandal in China The Gaurdian [Online], 2008. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/sep/18/china (accessed 19 Apr 2022).

3. Gossner, C. M.-E.;  Schlundt, J.;  Embarek, P. E.;  Hird, S.;  Lo-Fo-Wong, D.;  Beltran, J. J. O.;  Teoh, K. N.; Tritscher, A., The melamine incident: Implications for international food and feed safety. Environ. Health Perspect. 2009, 117 (12), 1803-1808.

4. . China's top food safety official resigns NBC News [Online], 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20140210003653/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26827110/#.Uvgfc-jP25c (accessed 19 Apr 2022).

5. Branigan, T. China executes two for tainted milk scandal The Gaurdian [Online], 2009. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/24/china-executes-milk-scandal-pair (accessed 19 Apr 2022).

6. Mooney, P. The Story Behind China's Tainted Milk Scandal U.S. News & World Report [Online], 2008. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2008/10/09/the-story-behind-chinas-tainted-milk-scandal (accessed 19 Apr 2022).

7. Branigan, T. Q&A: China's contaminated milk scandal The Gaurdian [Online], 2008. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/sep/23/china.milk.scandal (accessed 19 Apr 2022).

8. . Toxic milk toll rockets in China BBC News [Online], 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080916072954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7616346.stm (accessed 20 Apr 2022).

9. . Timeline: China milk scandal BBC News [Online], 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7720404.stm (accessed 25 Apr 2022).

10. . Hong Kong tests more food from China after egg scare The New York Times [Online], 2008. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/world/asia/26iht-26hongkongeggs-fw.17249815.html (accessed 20 Apr 2022).

11. . China seizes 22 companies with contaminated baby milk powder China View [Online], 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20121021182912/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/17/content_10046949.htm (accessed 20 Apr 2022).

12. Jia, H. Chinese melamine crisis prompts call for better tests Chemistry World [Online], 2008. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/chinese-melamine-crisis-prompts-call-for-better-tests-/3000989.article (accessed 25 Apr 2022).

13. Owens, J., Food Forensics. In Forensic Chemistry, Woods, K., Ed. 2015.

14. . Hong Kong finds melamine in two Cadbury products Reuters [Online], 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081007031156/https://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSHKG30923320081006 (accessed 20 Apr 2022).

15. . Lipton milk tea powder recalled in Asia CBS News [Online], 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20140214165843/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lipton-milk-tea-powder-recalled-in-asia/ (accessed 20 Apr 2022).

16. . Tainted milk scandal resurfaces in China BBC [Online], 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8478195.stm (accessed 25 Apr 2022).

17. . China dairy products found tainted with melamine BBC [Online], 2010. https://www.bbc.com/news/10565838 (accessed 25 Apr 2022).

18. Lawrence, F. Can the world quench China's bottomless thirst for milk? The Guardian [Online], 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/29/can-the-world-quench-chinas-bottomless-thirst-for-milk (accessed 25 Apr 2022).

Even too much of a good thing can be deadly. This episode covers the accidental water intoxication death of Jennifer Strange in 2007 following a radio station contest. Mentions of child abuse later on in the show.

1. . Police Probe Water Intoxication Death CBS News [Online], 2007. cbsnews.com/news/police-probe-water-intoxication-death/ (accessed 07 Apr 2022).

2. . DJs sacked over fatal water drinking contest The Guardian [Online], 2007. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jan/17/usa (accessed 07 Apr 2022).

3. Death on the Radio. hochelaga: YouTube, 2021.

4. . Woman dies after water-drinking contest NBC news [Online], 2007. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16614865 (accessed 08 Apr 2022).

5. . Warning not given in water contest Los Angeles Times [Online], 2007. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-16-me-water16-story.html (accessed 08 Apr 2022).

6. Lee, H. K. No charges in radio contest death / Woman died of water intoxication in contest to win video-game system SF Gate [Online], 2007. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/No-charges-in-radio-contest-death-Woman-died-of-2605639.php (accessed 08 Apr 2022).

7. Neil, M. Jury Says Radio Station Must Pay $16.6M in Woman's Water Intoxication Death ABA Journal [Online], 2009. https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jury_says_radio_station_must_pay_16.6m_in_womans_water_intoxication_death (accessed 12 Apr 2022).

8. Grad, S., Jury awards $16 million to family in fatal radio prank [Updated]. In L.A. Now, Los Angeles Times: latimesblogs.latimes.com, 2009; Vol. 2022.

9. Jewett, C., FCC will probe radio station. The Sacramento Bee 25 Jan 2007, 2007.

10. Venta, L. FCC Deletes KDND Sacramento License Radio Insight [Online], 2017. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/108908/kdnd-license-renewal-hearing-to-be-held-before-administrative-law-judge/ (accessed 12 Apr 2022).

11. Farrell, D. J.; Bower, L., Fatal water intoxication. J Clin Pathol 2003, 56 (10), 803-804.

12. Lingampalli, N., Water Intoxication. Berkeley Sci J 2013, 17 (2), 1-4.

13. Joo, M. A.; Kim, E. Y., Hyponatremia caused by excessive intake of water as a form of child abuse. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2013, 18, 95-98.

14. Prater, E.; Prentzel, O. El Paso County couple arrested in 11-year-old son's death, accused of murder The Gazette [Online], 2020. https://gazette.com/news/el-paso-county-couple-arrested-in-11-year-old-sons-death-accused-of-murder/article_723c0526-b09d-11ea-8216-d7e888761327.html (accessed 14 Apr 2022).

15. . New details revealed in case of 11-year-old boy who died from forced water intoxication KKTV [Online], 2020. https://www.kktv.com/2020/07/14/new-details-revealed-in-case-of-11-year-old-boy-who-died-from-forced-water-intoxication/ (accessed 14 Apr 2022).

16. Ashton, M. G.;  Ball, S. G.;  Thomas, T. H.; Lee, M. R., Water intoxication associated with carbamazepine treatment. British Med J 1977, 1 (6069), 1134-1135.

17. Feeney, J. G., Water intoxication and oxytocin. Br Med J 1982, 285 (6337), 243.

This episode is an overview of the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids and some mythbusting about their safety and their similarities to naturally produced cannabinoids. Stay safe, everyone!

1. Dawson, A. 2 dead, 41 hospitalized in Hillsborough from poisonous batch of 'Spice' Tampa Bay Times [Online], 2021. https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/12/15/2-dead-41-hospitalized-in-hillsborough-from-poisonous-batch-of-spice/ (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

2. Gottlieb, S., Statement from FDA warning about significant health risks of contaminated illegal synthetic cannabinoid products that are being encountered by FDA. US Food and Drug Administration: fda.gov, 2018.

3. Powell, D. The spice of death: The science behind tainted "synthetic marijuana" Scientific American [Online], 2018. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-spice-of-death-the-science-behind-tainted-synthetic-marijuana/ (accessed 04 Apr 2022).

4. . K2 crackdown in NYC: Police warn of "dangerous batch" after 56 overdoses reported CBS News [Online], 2018. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/k2-crackdown-in-nyc-police-warn-of-dangerous-batch-after-56-overdoses-reported/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

5. Penaloza, M. America's Synthetic Marijuana Overdose Crisis, Explained NPR [Online], 2018. https://www.npr.org/2018/07/27/632261920/d-c-has-had-more-than-300-suspected-k2-overdoses-in-2-weeks (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

6. Walton, A. G. Why Synthetic Marijuana is More Toxic to the Brain than Pot Forbes [Online], 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/08/28/6-reasons-synthetic-marijuana-spice-k2-is-so-toxic-to-the-brain/?sh=779d6b6173b1 (accessed 01 Apr 2022).

7. K2/Spice. Administration, D. E., Ed. Drug Enforcement Administration: dea.gov, 2020.

8. Rettner, R. Synthetic marijuana linked to seizures, pyschosis and death Huffpost [Online], 2017. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/synthetic-marijuana-linked-to-seizures-psychosis-and-death_n_5899f9d6e4b0406131395f53 (accessed 04 Apr 2022).

9. Fantegrossi, W. E.;  Moran, J. H.;  Radominska-Pandya, A.; Prather, P. L., Distinct pharmacology and metabolism of K2 synthetic cannabinoids compared to Δ9-THC: Mechanism underlying greater toxicity? Life Sci 2014, 97 (1), 45-54.

10. Oyedemi, S. O.;  Yakubu, M. T.; Afolayan, A. J., Effect of aqueous extract of Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. Br. leaves in male Wistar rats. Human Exp Tox 2010, 29 (5), 377-384.

11. Pertwee, R. G., Cannabinoid pharmacology: the first 66 years. BJP 2006, 147, S163-171.

12. Fattore, L.; Fratta, W., Beyond THC: The new generation of cannabinoid designer drugs. Front Behav Neurosci 2011, 5 (60), 12.

13. Maron, D. F. Fake weed leads to a real drug crisis Scientific American [Online], 2015. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fake-weed-leads-to-a-real-drug-crisis1/ (accessed 04 Apr 2022).

14. The Effects of Mixing Spice (K2) and Alcohol. https://www.alcohol.org/mixing-with/spice-k2/.

15. Sheikh, I. A.;  Lukšič, M.;  Ferstenberg, R.; Culpepper-Morgan, J. A., Spice/K2 synthetic marijuana-induced toxic hepatitus treated with N-acetylcysteine. Am J Case Rep 2014, 15, 584-588.

16. Harris, J. Calls about poisonings from fake marijuana edibles, candy triple News 4 Jax [Online], 2020. https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2020/09/22/calls-about-poisonings-from-fake-marijuana-edibles-candy-triple/ (accessed 06 Apr 2022).

We're throwing it back old school and discussing Socrates' state-ordered suicide by hemlock. Was he actually killed with hemlock, as Plato described, or was something else going on?

1. Plato, Euthyphro, The Apology, Crito, Phaedo. In The Last Days of Socrates, Radice, B., Ed. Penguin Books: New York, 1969.

2. Hughes, B., The Hemlock Cup. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 2011.

3. Brickhouse, T. C.; Smith, N. D., The Trial and Execution of Socrates. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2002.

4. Bonner, R. J., The use of hemlock for capital punishment. Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 1940, 51, 299-302.

5. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies. Tenth ed.; McGraw-Hill Education: New York, 2015.

6. Konca, C.;  Kahramaner, Z.;  Bosnak, M.; Kocamaz, H., Hemlock (Conium Maculatum) poisoning in a child. Turk J Emerg Med 2014, 14 (1), 34-36.

7. Boskabadi, J.;  Askari, Z.;  Zakariaei, Z.;  Mahdi, F.; Tabaripour, R., Mild-to-severe poisoning due to Conium maculatum as toxic herb: A case series. Clin Case Rep 2021, 9, 5.

8. Erenler, A. K.;  Baydin, A.;  Duran, L.;  Yardan, T.; Turkoz, B., A case of respiratory failure due to poison hemlock poisoning presented to an emergency department. Hong Kong J. Emerg. Med. 2011, 18 (4), 235-238.

9. Hotti, H.; Rischer, H., The killer of Socrates: Coniine and related alkaloids in the plant kingdom. Molecules 2017, 22 (1962), 23.