I'm posting this mostly so I can link to it from that other thread as an example of a few basic qualities we'd be looking for in an article (although writing for an e-zine would be slightly different - no hyperlinks for instance).
Remember, I didn't write this, I just edited it.
All credit goes to killingismybiz
Xenon is a gas typically used in "neon lighting" and when excited by electrical discharge, xenon emits a blue glow. It is also now used in luxury car headlights as it is brighter and more directable[is this a word?] than a normal halogen bulb. Neon lights could be the source for an anesthetic gas that closely resembles nitrous oxide, with some major differences[give some information on these differences, and cite a source]
As an anesthetic, Xenon is said to be an almost ideal agent. Xenon is a colorless, odorless gas that causes no irritation to the user. It is non-toxic, and has proven to be hypoallergenic. By having low blood-gas coefficients, which is the gaseous equivalent of solubility, the effects of xenon are rather rapid. It can produce unconsciousness, analgesia (pain-kill), and muscle relaxation. It does not cause any profound respiratory depression, and is cardiac stable. "Xenon anesthesia produces the highest regional blood flow in the brain, liver, kidney and intestine" (
http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/x...aesthetic.html) This means that the heart and brain are not put under any excessive strain. Since it is a noble gas, and as such requires extreme conditions to react with other elements, it is not metabolized in the body. This means that it is not changed when used and is thus reusable – it can be used to achieve the initial effect. The xenon one inhales is identical to the xenon which one exhales, and it is easy to store since it is stable and nonflammable. The only problem with xenon is its prohibitive price; it is very expensive and can only be used efficiently through a recycling system.
Recreationally, xenon has a lot of potential. It is said to be one and a half times more potent as an anesthetic than nitrous oxide. (Critical Care Medical Journal) Trip reports speak of vocal distortion, head rushes, and similar actions to Nitrous Oxide. Recreational use has not been pioneered yet, despite xenon's potential as a recreational drug. This is probably due to it's high cost and rarity.
Dosing xenon accurately is another tricky part. A trip report on Lycaeum stated that the user took a 50:50 mix of xenon: oxygen, and anesthetic sites state that a mixture of 70:30 produces full analgesia with amnesiatic effects. So going on a 50:50 mix would be wise for calculating doses. The average lung capacity is 5L, so a dose of xenon, using the 50:50 dose, would be about 2.5L. While these dosage ratios are very important for long term exposure, xenon gas may be treated as nitrous oxide. A balloon full of xenon will more than cover it. Just make sure to also take a break every few minutes, oxygen deprivation is not a good thing. Since it is not metabolized, the user can exhale back into the balloon and reuse it.
While xenon is available online or through mail order from industrial gas suppliers, it is very cost prohibitive. The smallest quantity available is a 25L tank for $485.00. Larger, industrial sized tanks can bring the cost down to around $10/L, which is roughly half the price for lower quantities.
Since xenon is an inert gas, when exhaled it is unchanged. A recycler system can be made with a few cheap items. The body only metabolizes 4-5% of the oxygen breathed. So you will exhale oxygen, carbon dioxide, and xenon (assuming you are using pure oxygen and xenon). Carbon dioxide is easily filtered out using a CO2 scrubber. The basic principle of a CO2 scrubber is that CO2, when mixed with water, forms carbonic acid, which can be neutralized by exposing it to a strong basic agent, like NaOH (lye) or KOH (caustic potash) and hydrated lime. Oxygen is easily absorbed using an oxygen absorber, typically found in food packages. Just remember, if they are exposed to the open air, they will only last around 20 minutes because they are absorbing all the oxygen in the air.
Xenon may also actually possess a medicinal value. It has been shown to have neuroprotectant qualities. This means that Xenon can help block out any harmful chemicals that can damage nerve cells. Xenon may help reduce "... ischemia-induced brain damage..." (
http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstr...?pmid=14526227) Ischemia induced brain damage is damage that occurs because of restricted blood flow. (Meth)amphetamine are vasoconstrictors, thus blocking blood flow. The connection is made that Xenon may help with (meth)amphetamine toxicity. Xenon has, "beneficial effects on ischemia-induced neuronal death and amphetamine-induced sensitization." (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...uids=16179534). Since the Xenon can reduce damage caused by lack of blood flow, any vasoconstrictors neurotoxicity could be partly reduced by using xenon. Damage done by cocaine, MDMA, amphetamine, and methamphetamine may all be much more controllable through the use of xenon.
I'm fairly sure this is the right version of the article. If not, oops.
edit - oops, haha, this is NOT the proper version but I can't find the FINAL draft, this is the pre-edit version, as you can tell. But the basic structure and idea of it remains, so it stands until I can find where the final article has been stashed (if anyone has a link that'd be great).
