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Craze for drug made from catalytic converters alarms Congo's capital
autoblog.com ^ | 9/28/2021 | REUTERS

Posted on 10/06/2021 5:36:22 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo

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.

In August police rounded up and paraded nearly 100 alleged dealers and users of the drug "bombe," which means powerful in the local Lingala language, following a call to action by Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi.

"This social phenomenon calls for collective responsibility by the whole nation," Tshisekedi told ministers at a weekly meeting.

In an abandoned shack in a suburb of Kinshasa a young man seeking oblivion slits open a bag of brown powder, blending it with a couple of crushed pills using the back of a spoon, before snorting the "bombe" mixture, with his friends.

Within minutes the trio are swaying slowly, scratching themselves in a catatonic state that experts in Congo say can cause users to stand motionless for hours, or sleep for days.

"We used to drink very strong whiskey ... we were restless and we would hurt people," said Cedrick, a 26-year-old gang leader in a white designer shirt.

"But with bombe, it calms you down, you get tired, you stay somewhere standing up or sitting down for a very long time. When you're done, you go home without bothering anyone."

(Excerpt) Read more at autoblog.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine; Local News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: automotive; congo; drugs
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Just when you think you've heard it al...

And don't ask me how I stumbled upon this. I really don't remember.

1 posted on 10/06/2021 5:36:22 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Inhaling crushed up and concentrated ceramic dust, car exhaust particles, and heavy metals... this problem should be the type of issue that sorts itself out, but it seems like junkies have superhuman immunity to both logic and poisoning.


2 posted on 10/06/2021 5:42:36 PM PDT by jz638
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

I’ve heard about catalytic converter thefts in my Texas city. I thought it was just an expensive part, maybe shortages or something.

They are smoking them.


3 posted on 10/06/2021 5:42:40 PM PDT by BusterDog
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

On the bright side, users farts don’t have any stinky methane.


4 posted on 10/06/2021 5:43:59 PM PDT by dblshot
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Coming to a town near you.


5 posted on 10/06/2021 5:46:18 PM PDT by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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To: jz638

Sounds worse than Nazi dope. The early years.


6 posted on 10/06/2021 5:46:37 PM PDT by donozark (Awaiting the arrival of Biden's Black Marias...)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

I...

Nope, I’m not surprised what people do for kicks these days. Reason number 123,943,611,554 why I’m praying for the asteroid, or God to start rumaging through his kitchen cabnets looking for for His bowls.


7 posted on 10/06/2021 5:47:58 PM PDT by Dundee (They gave up all their tomorrows for our today's.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Does this drug fight Covid? Asking for a friend.


8 posted on 10/06/2021 5:51:56 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: Dundee

Nice backhand reference to the Revelation to John.


9 posted on 10/06/2021 5:52:49 PM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: ad ferre non, velit esse sine defensione)
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To: Jyotishi

🤣


10 posted on 10/06/2021 5:55:26 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (The best things in life aren't things.)
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To: Blueflag

At this point God is definately showing his Godly levels of mercy (pardon the pun) by not laying down His judgement upon all our heads.

For those who aren’t religiously inclinded, it’s cross your fingers for the astroid and hope the cockroaches do civilization better.


11 posted on 10/06/2021 6:09:24 PM PDT by Dundee (They gave up all their tomorrows for our today's.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

When Jenkem just isn’t good enough for African....


12 posted on 10/06/2021 6:27:20 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: Jyotishi

You have to wonder who first tries this stuff. I think this new drug would combat covid and life in general.


13 posted on 10/06/2021 6:28:09 PM PDT by mcshot (OMG! Really? WTF! I don't think we're OK. Is that the drain I see? Oh noes!)
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To: Organic Panic

Another drug I’ve never heard of.


14 posted on 10/06/2021 6:29:06 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (The best things in life aren't things.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo; All

Awesome! It seems that the most bizarre, off the path articles draw the Truly intelligent and highly skilled FR members to a response.

I am not being sarcastic. Good to see there are some intelligent humans left.


15 posted on 10/06/2021 6:39:09 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Couldnt they just stand there for long periods of time not doing anything, without taking this crap?

I mean, isn’t that just considered “work” for most of these people?


16 posted on 10/06/2021 6:45:00 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

I had an aunt who was a very committed Catholic converter.

Oh, wait. Never mind.


17 posted on 10/06/2021 6:53:25 PM PDT by JennysCool (Let's go, Brandon!)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Are these the people that invented jenkum?


18 posted on 10/06/2021 7:13:02 PM PDT by brianl703
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

and what kind of which doctor cum pharmacologist did it take to figure out THAT concoction???

hit and miss?


19 posted on 10/06/2021 7:14:13 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. P144:1)
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To: brianl703

Again, I have no idea what jenkum is.


20 posted on 10/06/2021 7:27:21 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (The best things in life aren't things.)
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