So today I’m going to tell you about some facts that I face on a daily basis. No it’s not about the parliament, it’s not about the other various atrocities in SL, its as the name suggests.. (literally) the poisons our people take.
I work in a poison research group and stationed a bit far off.. I NEVER expected such a workload when I started out, but now have gotten used to it.
The list topper is AGROCHEMICALS. Then comes Oleander, then various tablet poisonings, then comes GOD KNOWS WHAT.
Ok, so I guess this ain’t everybody’s plate, but if I didn’t have this in my blog… it’d be a shame..
Agrochemicals consumed by our people are mainly centered on Organophospate poisonings (cos those are the stuff mainly sold). There are several other groups, but they are rare, for example Paraquat and Diquat. Although they have been in fashion a few years back..
Oleander is the non-harmless tree with cute yellow/pink flowers.. The seeds (& all parts of the plant) .. deadly.. well it varies actually. It has chemicals which can alter the pacing of the heart. Nonetheless its also famous.
Tablet poisonongs: Here the list topper is Paracetamol. Yep, and it is quite toxic. Easily accessible (practically sold in every shop or grocery), then comes all the other common meds.
Once in a while there’s the Kerosene oil poisonings.. but they are becoming rare, guess due to the increasing fuel prices..
Ok so how many patients do we get on a daily basis? It varies again… Could be none, to about 10 a day.. Naturally, the degree of poisoning also varies as many are brought in unconscious, some feel ashamed, some still want to die, some want to live, some keep lying, etc etc.
A reason of as why these people go for the extended trouble logs at the back of my head. So I’ve basically grouped the poisons with reasons for taking it. Please note: these are only MY observations.
Agrochemicals : Due to an instant high peaked distress / emotion. Rarely contemplated. The higher the amplitude of emotion.. the higher the dose taken, the lesser chances of survival. From an actual account , a person told me that he hesitated after the first gulp, but felt dying was better and drank the rest. Males more inclined than females. Rarely accidental, and dose ingested is minute.
Oleander : Due to a long persistent distress / emotion, with small peaks once in a while. Always contemplated. VERY RARELY accidental, if so dose ingested is minute. Equal popularity with males and females. Unlike in Agrochemicals, no direct correlation between amount ingested and toxicity. No severe side effects like in Agrochemical poisoning, but the heart may stop beating suddenly.
Tablet Poisoning: Various medications have various side effects. Paracetamol is extremely harmful to the Liver. Patients die with Liver failure. More popular among females, its the usual after a fight with a lover, spouse etc. Tablets may be taken for any distress/emotion, short termed, or long termed. Could be contemplated.
Kerosene Oil : Harmless if not vomited! This is something the general public does not know. It may give rise to gastritis or ulcers, but no immediate treat to life. Popular among females. Never contemplated, but may be due to a long or short term distress /emotion.
Still, I ponder WHY? Why does anyone want to die like this? I mean the suffering is immense. The moral aspect is overwhelming! Sometimes I feel these people are SO sensitive.. thet can’t handle it. It’s not wrong to be sensitive.. but you have to learn to vent it out sometimes. The financial side also plays an integral part.
One interesting fact is that, even though penny less, they always buy the bottle of poison. Never for debt!
Naturally, saving these patients is very costly! (Oh and don’t think, “how can they think of money when it comes to a person’s life..” cos the antidotes for some drugs are well over one hundred thousand rupees for a course of treatment). As it is, the local hospitals are well overburdened!
Nonetheless, we do take care of them. We try our best, with what we have. Some days are just longer than others. Sometimes its just freaking hard to keep a straight mind and be objective. Sometimes I prefer not to feel.
This might sound harsh, but if someone really wants to kill themselves, isn’t it a waste of time trying to stop them?
Also, most people rarely seem to think it through. Say for example with the paracetamol. The liver toxicity inconveniences could be avoided if they’d take a few handfuls of painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-nausea pills with the paracetamol and wash it down with some vodka and then put a bag over their heads as they’re falling asleep.
Hey Darwin, cool that you visited my blog.
Technically what you say is true. The above mentioned combination will definitely get the work done.
Yes its a huge cost and effort to save these people. But they have not drunk poison for the fun of it. These people have turned to it due to the enormous stress they face on a daily basis. Sometimes, saving their life, gives them a chance to realize they are worth more.. I think that’s what they lacked in the first place.
In Psychiatry, I’ve heard a theory which says a person with a suicidal motive only needs to confront ONE person (anyone, not necessary someone known, for e.g someone asks him the time, etc..) to stop him from committing the act. This confrontation shows them (at least subconsciously) that they have some use for themselves.
Returning to your first question “isn’t it a waste of time?”, well if I/US can at least show him/her after they have taken the poison, that they are worth something, I think they will lead a somewhat different life from that point onwards. Mind you, I’m not saying I’m saving their world.. but its a small step.
why do sri lankans go for such painful methods. imagine suffering for days with liver failure. getting run over by trains (instant decapitation) and self immolation are also popular. oh and let’s not forget blowing yourself up with explosives – very popular among the tamil youth. your head would end up on a coconut tree.
we’ve got lots of crappy old cars. why not try carbon monoxide asphyxiation. i’ve heard overdosing on heroin is also a really good way to die. there aren’t many bath tubs/hot water so cutting your wrists is probably not an option. perhaps you could do it one of those hot water fountains.