116
edits
Chloroethane: Difference between revisions
m
Adjusted verbiage to be less wordy and more direct
mNo edit summary Tag: 2017 source edit |
m (Adjusted verbiage to be less wordy and more direct) |
||
| (11 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox drug | {{Infobox drug | ||
| other_names = Ethyl chloride, spray poppers | | other_names = Ethyl chloride, spray poppers, Maximum Impact®, Black Max® | ||
| image_file = | | image_file = | ||
| image_caption = | | image_caption = | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Chloroethane''' (also known as '''ethyl chloride''', or '''spray poppers,''' and under various trade names such as ''Maximum Impact®'' and ''Black Max®'') is a volatile organic solvent which produces rapid-onset intoxication when its vapors are inhaled. It is toxic and lethal in high concentrations. Recreational use is extremely dangerous due to the essentially unmitigable risk of sudden death. | '''Chloroethane''' (also known as '''ethyl chloride''', or '''spray poppers,''' and under various trade names such as ''Maximum Impact®'' and ''Black Max®'') is a volatile organic solvent which produces rapid-onset intoxication when its vapors are inhaled. It is toxic and lethal in high concentrations. <u>'''Recreational use is extremely dangerous due to the essentially unmitigable risk of sudden death'''</u>. | ||
== Background <!-- Provide background information for this drug. --> == | == Background <!-- Provide background information for this drug. --> == | ||
=== Medical uses === | === Medical uses === | ||
Chloroethane was previously used as an inhalational anesthetic to produce general anesthesia. However, its flammability, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics have led to | Chloroethane was previously used as an inhalational anesthetic to produce general anesthesia. However, its flammability, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics have led to its replacement by more modern agents such as sevoflurane. It is still sometimes used as a local anesthetic due to the chilling effect produced by topical evaporation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chloroethane {{!}} Toxic Substances {{!}} Toxic Substance Portal {{!}} ATSDR |url=https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/substances/ToxSubstance.aspx?toxid=161 |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=wwwn.cdc.gov}}</ref> | ||
=== Mechanism of action === | === Mechanism of action === | ||
Chloroethane is thought to produce intoxication primarily | Chloroethane is thought to produce intoxication primarily by GABA receptor agonism, similar to other volatile anesthetics. | ||
=== Physical properties === | === Physical properties === | ||
Chloroethane is a volatile organic compound which boils at room temperature. When sprayed from a pressurized bottle in liquid form, it rapidly converts to a gas producing a very high concentration chloroethane near where it was sprayed. | Chloroethane is a volatile organic compound which boils at room temperature. When sprayed from a pressurized bottle in liquid form, it rapidly converts to a gas producing a very high concentration of chloroethane near where it was sprayed. | ||
== Appeal <!-- Describe the reasons why people use this drug with kink. --> == | == Appeal <!-- Describe the reasons why people use this drug with kink. --> == | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
* 3-5%: Symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication | * 3-5%: Symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication | ||
* 6-8%: Amnesia, partial or complete loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, myocardial depression | * 6-8%: Amnesia, partial or complete loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, myocardial depression | ||
* 9-12%: | * 9-12%: Breathing stops, complete unresponsiveness, involuntary activation of reflexes such as gagging, vomiting | ||
* >12%: Cardiac arrest and rapid death | * >12%: Cardiac arrest and rapid death | ||
Chloroethane is administered recreationally through an aerosol spray, often onto a cloth or into a bag for huffing. The sprays can discharge >3 mL/sec of chloroethane liquid which will rapidly evaporate, creating high concentrations of the gas. With doses as little as 3 mL being able to make someone unconscious when sprayed on a cloth<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barton |first=George Alexander Heaton |url=http://archive.org/details/guidetoadministr00bartuoft |title=A guide to the administration of ethyl chloride |date=1907 |publisher=London, Lewis |others=Gerstein - University of Toronto}}</ref>, or less in a closed system like a bag. This results in an extremely small margin for a recreational dose compared to an amount which will make someone unconscious or cause sudden death. | |||
== Risks <!-- Describe the risks of this drug. --> == | == Risks <!-- Describe the risks of this drug. --> == | ||
Chloroethane, along with other [[volatile anesthetics]], is '''<u>extremely dangerous</u>''' to use recreationally and presents an example of essentially '''<u>unmitigable risk</u>''' due to the inability to reliably monitor or control the concentration of gas that is being inhaled. When chloroethane is sprayed into the environment, it immediately boils into a gas. This causes extremely high concentrations of gaseous chloroethane far beyond potentially fatal levels, especially if the liquid is sprayed into a material which will capture the gas and slow the boiling process ( | Chloroethane, along with other [[volatile anesthetics]], is '''<u>extremely dangerous</u>''' to use recreationally and presents an example of essentially '''<u>unmitigable risk</u>''' due to the inability to reliably monitor or control the concentration of gas that is being inhaled. When chloroethane is sprayed into the environment, it immediately boils into a gas. This causes extremely high concentrations of gaseous chloroethane far beyond potentially fatal levels, especially if the liquid is sprayed into a material which will capture the gas and slow the boiling process (such as into a rag). | ||
=== Cardiac arrest === | === Cardiac arrest === | ||
The difference in dose of chloroethane between the desired recreational effects and cardiac arrest is very small (<10% difference in the concentration of gas). Because chloroethane boils into a gas at room temperature, it is possible to produce extremely high concentrations of gas (>50%) if it is inhaled from a confined space such as a rag. Furthermore, it is practically impossible to accurately monitor and control the concentration of chloroethane being inhaled. '''<u>These characteristics mean that cardiac arrest can rapidly occur without warning during | The difference in dose of chloroethane between the desired recreational effects and cardiac arrest is very small (<10% difference in the concentration of gas). Because chloroethane boils into a gas at room temperature, it is possible to produce extremely high concentrations of gas (>50%) if it is inhaled from a confined space such as a rag. Furthermore, it is practically impossible to accurately monitor and control the concentration of chloroethane being inhaled. '''<u>These characteristics mean that cardiac arrest can rapidly occur without warning during use.</u>''' | ||
=== Airway reflex activation === | === Airway reflex activation === | ||
One major risk of chloroethane is the involuntary activation of airway reflexes, including [ | One major risk of chloroethane is the involuntary activation of airway reflexes, including [https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/2/47/271333 laryngospasm] (closure of the vocal cords), or [[wikipedia:Bronchospasm|bronchospasm]] (closure of the lower airways), resulting in partial or complete blockage of airflow to and from the lungs. Normally, these reflexes are protective and are triggered to prevent liquids or solids from entering the lungs. However, when unconsciousness is caused by an anesthetic agent, these reflexes can activate inappropriately even when no triggering stimulation was present, and may not relax once activated. | ||
If laryngospasm occurs, it can sometimes be treated with [ | If laryngospasm occurs, it can sometimes be treated with [https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/14/2/47/271333 Larson's maneuver] (using fingers to apply firm inward pressure to the soft tissue directly underneath the ear lobe on both sides of the head). If a bag-valve-mask is present, positive pressure with a high inspiratory pressure may also resolve the episode. However, '''<u>some cases of laryngospasm will not resolve until death occurs</u>''' and can only be managed by trained experts with access to specialized medications and equipment. | ||
=== Aspiration === | === Aspiration === | ||
Chloroethane may cause uncontrollable retching and vomiting which can lead to [ | Chloroethane may cause uncontrollable retching and vomiting which can lead to [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/aspiration aspiration] of stomach contents into the lungs. Aspiration is especially likely if the individual is unconscious or physically positioned such that they are unable to clear vomit from their mouth. | ||
If aspiration occurs and the airway is not immediately cleared, death by drowning will occur. If the airway is cleared but some vomit was inhaled, the individual is still at risk for complications and '''<u>should be evaluated in an emergency room</u>'''. Some examples include: | If aspiration occurs and the airway is not immediately cleared, death by drowning will occur. If the airway is cleared but some vomit was inhaled, the individual is still at risk for complications and '''<u>should be evaluated in an emergency room</u>'''. Some examples include: | ||
| Line 56: | Line 57: | ||
=== Addiction <!-- Describe the addiction risk for this drug. --> === | === Addiction <!-- Describe the addiction risk for this drug. --> === | ||
Users of chloroethane have reported experiencing [[compulsive redosing]] during use. | Users of chloroethane have reported experiencing [[compulsive redosing]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Compulsive redosing - PsychonautWiki |url=https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Compulsive_redosing}}</ref> during use. | ||
=== Frostbite === | |||
Chloroethane is used as a topical anesthetic due to its cooling effect from rapid evaporation. Continuous application to skin can cause frostbite.<ref>https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-105.pdf</ref> | |||
== Risk mitigation <!-- Describe the risk mitigation for this drug. --> == | == Risk mitigation <!-- Describe the risk mitigation for this drug. --> == | ||
Due to the risks described above, the use of any amount of chloroethane carries risk of sudden death which '''<u>cannot be meaningfully mitigated</u>''' in nearly any circumstance. | |||
Similar to other substances causing unconsciousness, additional overdosing may occur when the user loses consciousness and is unable to stop the supply of chloroethane. For example, if chloroethane is inhaled from a rag, the rag may stay over the mouth when the user passes out. Using a method of supply which requires constant active effort may reduce the risk of extreme and continued overdose after consciousness is lost when using chloroethane. | |||
Limiting dosage to quick sprays less than 0.1 seconds in duration (such as flicking or tapping the spray cap instead of holding it down, then the bottle placed down) which are repeated periodically can potentially reduce the amount of chloroethane inhaled, only reapplying after it has been fully used up. This can help avoid excess unevaporated chloroethane liquid from continuing to be present in the event the user loses consciousness. | |||
== Known incidents <!-- Provide a list of links to articles describing incidents involving this drug. --> == | == Known incidents <!-- Provide a list of links to articles describing incidents involving this drug. --> == | ||
| Line 69: | Line 77: | ||
* A Fatal Case of Ethyl Chloride Sniffing Using Head-Cleaning Spray (2004)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Masakazu |first=O. Y. A. |last2=Yoichi |first2=Mitsukuni |date=2004 |title=A Fatal Case of Ethyl Chloride Sniffing Using Head-Cleaning Spray |url=https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1390572174770178560 |journal=山梨医科学雑誌 |language=en |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=117–121 |doi=10.34429/00002896}}</ref> | * A Fatal Case of Ethyl Chloride Sniffing Using Head-Cleaning Spray (2004)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Masakazu |first=O. Y. A. |last2=Yoichi |first2=Mitsukuni |date=2004 |title=A Fatal Case of Ethyl Chloride Sniffing Using Head-Cleaning Spray |url=https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1390572174770178560 |journal=山梨医科学雑誌 |language=en |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=117–121 |doi=10.34429/00002896}}</ref> | ||
* Is old stuff back? A fatal case of ethyl chloride sniffing (2019)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pascali |first=Jennifer P. |last2=Fais |first2=Paolo |last3=Viel |first3=Guido |last4=Cecchetto |first4=Giovanni |last5=Montisci |first5=Massimo |date=2019-06-11 |title=Is old stuff back? A fatal case of ethyl chloride sniffing |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-019-0136-4 |journal=Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=29 |doi=10.1186/s41935-019-0136-4 |issn=2090-5939}}</ref> | * Is old stuff back? A fatal case of ethyl chloride sniffing (2019)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pascali |first=Jennifer P. |last2=Fais |first2=Paolo |last3=Viel |first3=Guido |last4=Cecchetto |first4=Giovanni |last5=Montisci |first5=Massimo |date=2019-06-11 |title=Is old stuff back? A fatal case of ethyl chloride sniffing |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-019-0136-4 |journal=Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=29 |doi=10.1186/s41935-019-0136-4 |issn=2090-5939}}</ref> | ||
=== Community reports === | |||
* Fatality due to overdose of Maximum Impact (June 2025)<ref>https://bsky.app/profile/bdthonger.bsky.social/post/3lrgmk4auuc27</ref> | |||
== External links == | |||
* [https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/substances/ToxSubstance.aspx?toxid=161 Chloroethane] on the CDC Toxic Substances Portal | |||
* [https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Inhalants Inhalants] on PsychonautWiki | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:Drugs]] | |||
[[Category:Inhalants]] | [[Category:Inhalants]] | ||
[[Category:Inhaled anesthetics]] | |||
[[Category:Volatile anesthetics]] | |||