Craze for drug made from catalytic converters alarms Congo's capital

[MechAg94]

The drug is obtained from crushing the ceramic honeycomb core of the converter
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/09/28/kinshasa-congo-bombe-drug-car-catalytic-converters/

KINSHASA, Congo — A new craze for a drug derived from crushed vehicle exhaust filters is rattling authorities in Kinshasa, triggering a campaign to stamp out the concoction and a related rash of car part thefts.

The brown powder is obtained from crushing the ceramic honeycomb core of automotive catalytic converters, the device that cuts the emission of toxic gases in vehicle exhaust pipes.
----------------------------------
Users mix the crushed honeycomb with vitamin pills and typically add sleeping tablets, sedatives or smoke it with tobacco, but nothing is known about how it works, or its long-term effects, said Dandy Yela Y'Olemba, country director of the World Federation against Drugs.

One of those stories you see that is completely unexpected.  I am at a loss for words.

Car-exhaust drug craze alarms Congo’s capital
https://nypost.com/2021/09/27/car-exhaust-drug-craze-alarms-congos-capital/

[griz]

I was shocked when I heard people huff gasoline.  Now this.  Not sure which ones worse, destroying brain cells or poisoning yourself.

[Boomhauer]

The local tweakers sure are going to be sad they didn’t know catalytic converters were the drugs themselves also, not merely a means for quick cash

[HankB]

I've ceased to be amazed at what morons will consume/smoke/inject/inhale/whatever in order to get some kind of high.

When I was a youngster, the big fear was kids sniffing model airplane glue. Hell, I didn't even like the smell, so I always tried to build my models near an open window - and other kids were squirting it into baggies and inhaling? 

Laws were passed    and I had to have my parents buy my glue for me. Maybe the result of this will make catalytic converter theft a drug offense? (I can see some crazy greenie arguing that catalytic converters are illegal drugs disproportionately hurting POCs and have to be banned, as an indirect method of banning gasoline powered cars and mandating electric vehicles. As soon as they figure out how to monetize the argument for themselves.)

[WLJ]

Put out on the internet that you can get the same effect by running a hose from your car's exhaust pipe into the car with the windows closed and let Darwin take care of the problem.

[MechAg94]

The article said they were adding stuff to the mixture so it is likely all the additives to produce the high and the catalyst metals are for show.  I don't want to experiment.

[griz]

Put out on the internet that you can get the same effect by running a hose from your car's exhaust pipe into the car with the windows closed and let Darwin take care of the problem.

Call it the Tailpipe Challenge and it could catch on.

[WLJ]

Call it the Tailpipe Challenge and it could catch on.

And Tide Pods make for the perfect snack while you wait for your high

[lee n. field]

let Darwin take care of the problem.

<nods>

I was shocked when I heard people huff gasoline.  Now this.  Not sure which ones worse, destroying brain cells or poisoning yourself.

Happens.  When I was young we had a problem with one of the neighbor kids sniffing gas by sniffing at Dad's tractor fuel tank. 

[HankB]

I was shocked when I heard people huff gasoline.  . . .

That could really be interesting in the case of a chain smoker . . .

[Doggy Daddy]

That could really be interesting in the case of a chain smoker . . .

You say they're stealing chains to get high now too!?!

[Andiron]

Africa wins again, and Darwin will not be denied.

[HeroHog]

You say they're stealing chains to get high now too!?!

Down here in Louisiana, I've heard tale of some idjut trying to steal a bunch of chain and drowning in the swamp trying to cross it with all that heavy chain...

[HankB]

Down here in Louisiana, I've heard tale of some idjut trying to steal a bunch of chain and drowning in the swamp trying to cross it with all that heavy chain...

Hmmm . . . border problems . . . Rio Grande River . . . chain migration . . .

Maybe with the right tik-tok video challenge . . . 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

I was shocked when I heard people huff gasoline.  Now this.  Not sure which ones worse, destroying brain cells or poisoning yourself.

Yes.

Woody