Nathaniel Jacobsen's blog

The Dangers of Drugs: HMOT

I often write humorous posts, but today I'd like to talk about something very seriously, and that is the danger of an emerging drug of abuse, HMOT. Recently, the Washington Post had an article discussing the dangers of morning glory. In their typical knee-jerk fashion, they mentioned no real facts and figures, and the illogic of the article was aptly pointed out at Slate.

While misinformation is a problem, a much greater problem is how articles like that one overshadow real social issues, and drugs that cause real problems. While meth appears to be taking off (I mean the crystal kind -- not the kind we give to children, or the kind doctors prescribe for weight loss), there are far more potent and easily available drugs out that do far more damage.

What I'd like to talk about today is the danger of a very unique substance known as HMOT (the chemical name is 6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2,3,4,5-tetrol). While it's been used responsibly for thousands of years, by many cultures, it's becoming abused more and more often, especially in America. Here are some quick facts about HMOT:

• 1 in 3 Americans that use this substance will develop diabetes as a result of its use. Others may develop metabolic syndrome. Its use has also been linked to obesity and heart disease in more severe cases.
• Its danger is increased since it's able to cross the blood-brain barrier, and therefore can act directly on the CNS.
• It is extremely addictive. Anyone who's ever tried HMOT and then quit experiences severe withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal is so severe that it can cause your body to actually start digesting its own muscle tissue.
• Children who have accidently ingested this drug may have an extreme amount of energy and severe insomnia.
• Some cultures chew the leaves of the S. spontaneum and S. procerum grasses to release this substance, similar to chewing of the coca leaf.
• In its crystalline form, it's known on the street as "Supercool".
• Like crystal meth, oral ingestion of this drug severly rots the teeth and causes gingivitis.

Depending on the method of administration, it can act as either a stimulant or a depressant. Some addicts will take it on an empty stomach, and it acts as a sedative, making driving and operating heavy machinery very dangerous. Some even go as far to mix it with caffeinated beverages to make an HMOT "speedball".

Some people go as far to mix its crystalline form with processed grains, and then ingest it orally, a mixture they call "cereal".

What's so sad is that each year, thousands of people die or are hospitalized from overdosing on this substance, sometimes unintentionally. The scary part is that this substance isn't even scheduled in the USA, and it can be readily grown or purchased.

I hope that this post has given you a little more information about a very real problem in this country. Currently, there are no organizations that are warning people about this drug, even though many people are using it. There are no exact numbers on the number of people who have used it, but some estimates but it upwards of 10% of the adult population of the USA (others claim it is significantly higher).

It's important that we all get the word out on this drug, and if you have children, warn them of the dangers. HMOT is a very real threat, and it this situation is left unabated, it may very well spell out the end of society as we know it.