# Heroin - smoking on foil **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2002, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049 "2002-03-31T11:43:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/1 "2002-03-31T11:43:55Z")
why do addicts “burn” the foil before using it for a chase? I’ve heard that if you dont you can get tin poisoning, but most foil is aluminium nowadays is it not? ---
**Author:** ![Mad\_Matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Mad\_Matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mad_Matt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/2 "2002-03-31T12:00:46Z")
In the circles I used to move in we did not bother to burn the foil at all. I have heard people say that there is a “plastic layer” on some foils that needed to be burnt off, but I think that this is just an urban legend. I also used to hear that there was a right and wrong side to place the heroin on (shiny or dull). There is no difference between the two sides of the foil - whichever side of the sheet is in contact with the rolers in the pressing process ends up shiny! Finally, you are correct. Although we call it “tin foil” it is, in fact, made of aluminium. I’ve been clean for over a year now, so I’m not too up on current myths on the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/3 "2002-03-31T13:13:37Z")
I used to smole pot using aluminum foil with pin holes through it, as a substitute screen. As fas as I can tell, it damaged no cause. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grievar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/82dd89/32.png) [@Grievar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grievar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/4 "2002-03-31T13:16:19Z")
Beware however that aluminum not only has a bad taste, it can cause alzheimers disease when you get a lot of it in your bloodstream over your life. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/5 "2002-03-31T13:30:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grievar \* > \*\*Beware however that aluminum not only has a bad > taste, it can cause alzheimers disease when you get > a lot of it in your bloodstream over your life. \*\* I’m sorry, but this is not really supported by fact. From [The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences](http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/faq/alum.htm) > [@](#): > > Certain aluminum compounds have been found to be an important component of the neurological damage characteristics of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Much research over the last decade has focused on the role of aluminum in the development of this disease. At this point, its role is still not clearly defined. Since AD is a chronic disease which may take a long time to develop, long-term exposure is the most important measure of intake. Long-term exposure is easiest to estimate for drinking water exposures. Epidemiological studies attempting to link AD with exposures in drinking water have been inconclusive and contradictory. Thus, the significance of increased aluminum intake with regard to onset of AD has not been determined. ---
**Author:** ![Grievar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/82dd89/32.png) [@Grievar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grievar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/6 "2002-03-31T15:38:23Z")
I’m sorry. I should have said “_may_ cause alzhimers” I knew that it wasn’t completely conclusive, but I forgot to mention that. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/7 "2002-03-31T18:24:52Z")
Its hard to imagine heroin users worrying about Alzheimers whilst they were rattling. They don’t worry too much about breathing in the fillers that are cut in, at one time strychnine was a common filler. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/8 "2002-03-31T18:27:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\*Its hard to imagine heroin users worrying about Alzheimers whilst they were rattling. > > They don’t worry too much about breathing in the fillers that are cut in, at one time strychnine was a common filler. \*\* This is an ancient drug myth, albeit one typically applied to LSD rather than heroin. Nobody cuts drugs with strychnine; what would be the point? Why kill your customer base with something that’s probably more expensive than the drug itself, and certainly more expensive than something benign like milk sugar? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/9 "2002-03-31T18:36:51Z")
> [@](#): > > …at one time strychnine was a common filler. > [@](#): > > aluminum … can cause alzheimers disease Does anyone have any more Urban Legends they’d like to add? ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/10 "2002-03-31T18:50:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Frink \* > \*\* > Does anyone have any more Urban Legends they’d like to add? \*\* You can’t get high the first time you smoke.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/11 "2002-03-31T18:51:43Z")
Wanking - it can make you go blind, aye. ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/12 "2002-03-31T19:56:20Z")
She will not get pregnant if its her first time.😉 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/13 "2002-03-31T21:54:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Nobody cuts drugs with strychnine; what would be the point? Why kill your customer base with something that’s probably more expensive than the drug itself, Yea, right, > **[Office of National Drug Control Policy | The White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/)** > > The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) leads and coordinates the nation’s drug policy so that it improves the health and lives of the American [http://www.focusas.com/Heroin.html](http://www.focusas.com/Heroin.html) > **[Corporate Relationship Services London - Coaching London](https://www.leonecentre.com/services/corporate-services)** > > Our Corporate Relationship services can improve communication & teamwork. Find out how our expert consultants can help coach your business. [http://www.wedetox.net/drug\_opiates.html](http://www.wedetox.net/drug_opiates.html) I can get loads of these if you want. But what would I know, I only work in a jail stuffed full of junkies. In fact abuse of Strychnine was very popular in Victorian Engalnd(I shall not comment upon other nations since I do not know their history of drug usage) Strychnine is a potent stimulant and believe it or not, the synthetic version of Heroin, Diazepam, is a recommended treatment for Strychnine poisoning. Strychnine has the immediate effect of dilating blood vessels around the face giving the user a rosy cheeked look, this was prized by a certain class of Victorian lady. Strychnine was also used in cycling as a stimulant, the Tour de France was known for it but the use of it seems mostly to have been in the ultra hard and long stages of the Tour prior to WWII. Mixing stimulants with depreassant drugs is pretty common, Cocaine and Heroin, known also as ‘speedballs’ Many substances are harmful poisons but can be taken safely(in the short term) in low doses, arsenic is one other. Strychnine is apparently used in conjunction with LSD, though I have to say that I have not come across a person who would admit to this. Eat crow chile! ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/14 "2002-03-31T22:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\* > > Yea, right, > > [http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/ByType.asp?intTypeID=17](http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/ByType.asp?intTypeID=17) > > [http://www.focusas.com/Heroin.html](http://www.focusas.com/Heroin.html) > > [http://www.psychotherapyresources.org/corporate.html](http://www.psychotherapyresources.org/corporate.html) > > [http://www.wedetox.net/drug\_opiates.html](http://www.wedetox.net/drug_opiates.html) > > I can get loads of these if you want. > > \*\* All of those appear to be fairly unobjective sites, including sites advocating drug testing and such. > [@](#): > > \*\* > > Strychnine is a potent stimulant and believe it or not, the synthetic version of Heroin, Diazepam, is a recommended treatment for Strychnine poisoning. > > \*\* Diazepam is Valium, which is not an opiate (or an opioid, for that matter). It’s a sedative. Heroin itself is considered “semi-synthetic”. As well, I’ve never heard of strychnine being used as a stimulant, although I must admit I’ve never looked into it > [@](#): > > \*\* > > Strychnine has the immediate effect of dilating blood vessels around the face giving the user a rosy cheeked look, this was prized by a certain class of Victorian lady. > > \*\* Possible, although I’ve heard this also ascribed to other plant-derived poisons, namely belladonna. I’ve never seen a reliable source confirming this, however. > [@](#): > > \*\* > > Strychnine is apparently used in conjunction with LSD, though I have to say that I have not come across a person who would admit to this. > > \*\* Here’s a quote regarding the supposed strychnine/LSD connection: “From 1972 to 1977 i was Director of Florida’s anonymous street drug testing program (Clearwater Free Clinic/Drug Analysis Project) and later was a research associate with UpFront, Inc. in Miami (1978 & 79). During this period of time i was directly familiar with the results from our analytical labs and those operating in California, Oregon and Detroit. I recall NO instances of samples of (actual) LSD being combined with strychnine, brucine or amphetamines and derivitives of amphetamine. (Which is not to say that there were no instances of people intentionally co-dosing with other drugs such as amphetamine; seems to me there were some clinical experiments where such a combination was tested and i recall people telling me about instances when they had done the same.)” True, this was a Usenet post, and could certainly be falsified; however, people have claimed that strychnine was present in LSD (either as a “cut”, or as a byproduct of the synthesis process) since the mid-1960s, and I’m coming up with only two cases in which people claimed to find strychnine in powdered LSD: one in which a trace amount was reported via a chromatography test (1971), although apparently a second test proved negative. The second instance came from Albert Hofmann (the “father of LSD”), who claimed that strychnine had been sold as powdered LSD. Apparently, though, he could provide no details and no cite when contacted regarding this claim. As well, the active dosage of LSD is in the microgram levels; you couldn’t fit enough strychnine in a square of blotter paper to cause much harm. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/15 "2002-03-31T22:57:18Z")
> [@](#): > > …the synthetic version of Heroin, Diazepam,… Did you mean methadone? I don’t if it’s used to treat strychnine poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/16 "2002-03-31T22:58:26Z")
know Apply where appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/17 "2002-04-01T01:49:28Z")
right on, **occ**. btw, **casdave** , three of the four sites you cited suffer from the dreaded “Fox Terrier” syndrome; that is, their content is ALMOST EXACTLY ALIKE! tf? jb ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/18 "2002-04-01T08:35:43Z")
Hmmm, looks like I’ll have to do somewhat better in my searching. Here is one site that mentions the use of Strychnine as a performance enhancing drug in sport around 1900, though there is every liklehood it was used before then, as one feature of Victorian sporting prowess was considered to be extreme endurance, I believe that some long distance speed walking event records still date from this time, even if they are not standard distances. [http://www.prn.usm.my/bulletin/sun/1996/sun27.html](http://www.prn.usm.my/bulletin/sun/1996/sun27.html) and another > **[Page Not Found](https://www.totalbike.com/404)** > > Gatsby starter styled with Tailwind from which > [@](#): > > In 1904 Olympics marathon runner Thomas Hicks was using a mixture of brandy and strychnine and nearly died. This site mentions the addition of Strychnine and Caffeine but it hints that this is mostly a European phenomenon. [http://www.undcp.org/bulletin/bulletin\_1975-01-01\_1\_page007.html#bf006](http://www.undcp.org/bulletin/bulletin_1975-01-01_1_page007.html#bf006) > [@](#): > > All of those appear to be fairly unobjective sites Fair enough, but most sites about heroin use seem to be of the prohibition type, with a few medical journals scattered about. Looking at the treatment for Strychnine poisoning, it appears to be very important that the patient is kept quiet, and calm to avoid the convulsions. As for metioning Diazepam, dunno what got into me, it should have been Demerol, never mind, I suppose its cause they both start with a ‘D’. Quite \* why\* heroin and strychnine are mixed and the effects that users get, I don’t know but I bet I know a few who do, so I’ll ask around at work, shouldn’t be too hard to find out. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/19 "2002-04-01T15:35:51Z")
The “name an Urban Legend” hijack was more fun than the “strychnine” hijack. Can we go back to it, please? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049/20 "2002-04-02T08:35:02Z")
[additional hijack] btw, upon further inspection, **casdave** ’s last [link](http://www.wedetox.net/drug_opiates.html) appears to be the Q source for the rest. [/additional hijack] [karma balancing doubleplusunhijack] _quoth **Mad Matt** _ > [@](#): > > _I also used to hear that there was a right and wrong side to place the heroin on (shiny or dull)._ There is no difference between the two sides of the foil - whichever side of the sheet is in contact with the rolers in the pressing process ends up shiny! [karma balancing doubleplusunhijack] i don’t get it. i am under the impression that _both_ sides of the foil are in contact with the rollers. i mean, how the hell else would foil be rolled? to get back to the OP, i am also under the impression that foils (at least, the hoity toity ‘quality’ foils) have a coating of some sort on one side. i may have read this in scientific american, i may have been told this as an urban legend (“My sister totally has this friend who was babysitting, and she made the kids baked potatoes in the oven for dinner, but she put the foil on backwards, and the potatoes **didn’t bake**!!!”), and i may have read this on the side of my Reynold’s Wrap a few months back. and but i mean, c’mon- it only makes sense that there’d be some coating on the foil. seriously, we’ve been able to foil aluminum for some time now; there have not (i will bet anyone a fiver on this) been many metal-foil-pressing revelations in the last twenty years. but foil (or so the foil cabal claims) is much ‘better’ nowadays (always followed by a ‘!’), i guess maybe more efficient at conduction or infrared reflection (i’m shootin’ for the latter, btw) or something. and coatings would explain this marked improvement. so what up on this? does foil have a coating on one side? and if so, it it harmful or unpleasant to smoke that, or smack one’s bitch up with same? jb [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroin-smoking-on-foil/101049.md?page=2)