Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 19
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Inhaled Calmatives/Sedatives
• Aerosolized drugs
– GABAergic agents
• Benzodiazepine (e.g. diazepam)
• Barbiturate (e.g. pentobarbital)
– Opioids
• Volatile agents
– Hydrocarbons
Module Two - The Clinical Neurotoxicology of Chemical Terrorism
19
This slide describes some other examples of agents that would be useful as calmatives.
They are all used in clinical medicine given their relative effectiveness and safety.
Effective delivery is the challenge. Some hydrocarbons can be readily converted to
gaseous form (such as inhalational anesthetics (halothane)) while most drugs are solids
that, once dissolved in water or another solvent, can be aerosolized (misted). However,
even creating a respirable aerosol is quite difficult and requires sophisticated technology.
Not all substances that are inhaled are true gases. Some chemicals are liquid particles
that can be suspended in air. This appears as a fine mist. The process of producing
this mist is known as aerosolization. This mist preparation may also be known as an
aerosol. Some liquid chemicals that are calmatives or sedatives have been aerosolized
for use. These include agents that act through the GABA neurotransmitters discussed
previously. These agents cause sedation. Examples are two drug classes known as
benzodiazepines and barbiturates. While one would not necessarily use aerosolized
versions of these drugs to treat patients, such aerosolized versions might have other
uses such as to sedate large crowds of people, hence their potential use by law
enforcement and the military.
Volatility generally refers to the ability of a liquid to convert to a gas form (vapor) at
relatively low temperatures. Unlike aerosols, vapors are not suspended liquid particles.
Hydrocarbons refer to liquids which give off vapors at a high enough temperature. For
instance, gasoline is a liquid hydrocarbon. An open can of gasoline emits a vapor which
has a distinctive odor. Hydrocarbon vapors may also cause sedation. Drugs used in
anesthesia that put patients to sleep in the operating room are hydrocarbons such as
halothane (and in the past, ether and chloroform).
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