Drug

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Coca-Cola.

But it is really annoying to know, in addition to caffeine and high-fructose corn syrup, there is another addictive substance in the drink. In fact, this very material fulfills the criteria of an abused drug - it is both addictive and detrimental to health when consumed in excess.

Let's examine the characteristics of this substance more closely:

• After regular use for some time, a person would start thinking of another dose in 4 to 6 hours.
• If somehow he does not get a booster at once, he would certainly crave for it in 12 to 24 hours.
• Withdrawal symptoms include dry mouth, loss of skin turgor, agitation, and, finally, kidney shut down.
• Most abusers take it by mouth. If an excessive dose is consumed, the patient would develop adverse neurological effects, manifesting as confusion, convulsion, and, eventually, death.
• Occasionally, the substance is taken by the inhaled route. It could be lethal by inducing respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmia.
• If a pure form of the drug is given intravenously, it would cause immediate hemolysis and occasionally death.

Scared ? More seasoned readers would now recognize, that very substance in question is our good old water.

Now, would you have more sympathy to Sherlock Holmes, and consider modifying your definition of an abusable drug ?

PS. The above discussion is not my invention. Have you heard of the dihydrogen monoxide hoax?