How Heroin Addicts Helped Scientists Link Pesticides and Parkinson's

carmendrahl writes "Exposure to certain pesticides, including rotenone and paraquat, has been associated with a higher incidence of Parkinson's disease in population studies. But how did scientists come to think of a link between Parkinson's disease and pesticides in the first place? The answer involves the 1980s drug underworld, where criminals were synthesizing modified versions of illegal drugs such as heroin to stay one step ahead of the law. One molecule in some designer heroin cocktails, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), breaks down in the human body into 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a nerve cell killer. Heroin addicts exposed to this molecule got Parkinson's-like symptoms. As for the connection to pesticides, MPP+ is a weed killer that was used in the 70s. It also closely resembles the structure of the pesticide paraquat. The saga, therefore, put scientists on high alert to the possibility that pesticides might play a role in developing Parkinson's."

Comments

Thanks, Junkies!

[Garridan]

Usually, dumping random chemicals into people is considered unethical. We can't do proper science on pesticides due to strong chemical lobbies, but thanks to our punish-the-sick attitude towards drug addiction, we have a large body of "volunteers" for human trials of unknown chemicals. This is a strong argument for prohibition: "if the illegal drug market goes away, we can't test financially-protected drugs, and non-criminals might get sick!"

Book

[steveb3210]

The original researcher wrote a book on his discovery:

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Frozen-Addicts-William-Langston/dp/0679424652

Re:Book

[diodeus]

I remember in the 70s hearing about the DEA spraying paraquat on fields of weed found in Hawaii as a "tainting" scare tactic. I wonder if there's a connection there too.

Re:Book

[Charliemopps]

You mean like how they currently add acetaminophen to most opiates (check out your next codeine prescription) so that if you take too much you'll suffer liver damage? If you can't lead a horse to water, just poison every other source of water in the area and that fucking horse better damn well drink the right water... if not it's the horses fault its pissing blood.

Re:Book

[rwyoder]

You mean like how they currently add acetaminophen to most opiates (check out your next codeine prescription) so that if you take too much you'll suffer liver damage?

Indeed.

"The drug acetaminophen, which is the active ingredient in the popular Tylenol, among others, is widely considered safe when taken correctly. Yet, the pain reliever can lead to liver damage that is often severe or even fatal when taken in doses greater than recommended. The problem is, however, that the margin between a safe dose and a potentially harmful dose is slim. Taken over several days, as little as 25 percent above the maximum daily dose - or just two additional extra strength pills a day - has been reported to cause liver damage, according to the [Food and Drug Administration]. "

Article: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/acetaminophen-deaths-cast-shadow-on-popular-pain-reliever.html

Demerol, not heroin.

[DeathGrippe]

MPP is a byproduct of sloppy meperidine synthesis, NOT heroin. Meperidine is "Demerol."

Re:Casualties of the War on Freedom

[DMJC]

But would he have had to mug anyone, if his hit didn't cost him $100/go? if you legalise, the cost drops, the quality increases, and the risk of OD drops dramatically. You also see massive drops in murders, rapes, and theft. Policy should always be evidence, based not based on people's gut-feelings about drug users.

Re:Casualties of the War on Freedom

[Hatta]

Agreed. Prohibitionists pose a greater danger to society than any drugs or addicts.