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Life and Production: S1 E3: Heat and Pressure

How can one chemist fight drug addiction?

By Skyler SaundersPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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The Capacity to Explore

In the laboratory, Trevor Lesane came up with something new. He had explored the various combinations of what particular drug would fit into his vision. He unpackaged the heroin and cocaine and sifted through each with his instruments. Without a license, without goggles or gloves, Lesane Laboratories stood as the safest, most cost efficient, cleanest space for work. Heat and pressure, he presumed, would lead to the formation of a pill which would fend off any urges to shoot heroin or snort or smoke cocaine. Found at the peak of the Great Transition (GT), which freed up producers and consumers to engage in the drug business without any legal backlash or taxes, the laboratory generated tens of billions of dollars in revenue and made Lesane a billionaire. Also, lacking a degree, he discovered all of his knowledge on the natural world by actually taking part in it. From plants to animals, Lesane cultivated a wealth of know-how over his career. He utilized this understanding in order to convert the phantasmic into reality.

Lesane knew that the legalization of drugs in Delaware would cause the rates of users taking the drugs to spike. In turn, addicts would seek refuge in the hands of an abundance of clinics to help them to rid themselves of the need to use. A market opened up before his very eyes. Multiple treatment centers like Heal All and Do Over and Undo and Begin Again all sprouted up to combat the throes of craving narcotics. If he could synthesize a drug which would save the lives of countless people struggling with chemical dependency, then he would work and work until an answer satisfied him. On many occasions, he failed. A bond wouldn’t stick. A formation would break down into pieces. Yet he continued his quest for meeting the challenge of what afflicted some Delawareans. Some recording artists enjoy calling their music studio the “lab.” But in the most literal sense, this laboratory offered Lesane a place to blunder, do the foolish stuff, and prosper on the investments of time and money. As an independent chemist, Lesane relished the fact that no bureaucrat nor crony could tell him how to conduct his laboratory or manage his business. Lesane enjoyed the capacity to explore whatever interested him. This time it involved a life-saving substance to combat a drug problem. He considered his hands. These two solid, sturdy extremities allowed him to work on this project. He washed them in the basin and set down to achieve. Yes, patches delivered buprenorphine to heroin addicts. And yes cocaine abusers could administer disulfiram, which is usually used for alcoholics. But with a pill, both drugs (and more to come) would be tackled with the might of a tiny tablet. His task provided him a dare. He would dare to knock down the conventional and in its place institute the radical, the innovative.

His Sanctuary

From across the pristine laboratory, he noticed his laboratory students Vick Knight and Monty Barber. Lesane picked up the remote to his drone equipped with a camera. He controlled the flying device from about 30 feet away from him.

“You’re not accomplishing those credits by smoking and joking, you two,” Lesane said through the diminutive gadget. The duo snapped to and marched toward their boss like warriors stepping into formation. The drone zipped over their heads and rested on a desk by Lesane.

“Now, I have some work for the both of you,” Lesane said. “I want you to find out about what pharmacological treatments have worked... which have failed. See if you can pinpoint the precise structures of the molecules of each of the substances which have proven to be the most elusive. There’s enough out there for you to discover. I suggest that you both get started. I’m looking forward to seeing my kids after work. Once you have what you think is an appropriate amount, shoot me the info. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my little boy and girl will be home soon. I want to see results,” Lesane said. He took off his bone white laboratory coat and exited from his sanctuary.

Barber and Knight both acknowledged the command and set about researching what their boss instructed. They took to the Internet first, drawing up as many clinical test trials and data on the chemical makeup of drugs which claimed that they would curb the effects of addiction. They took to the streets. After finding out about the places which offered some sort of remedy, they rejoiced to discover that the hospitals and treatment centers offered the results of such trials. What they found would shock some and astonish most. Barber and Knight drew the conclusion that although a remedy for cocaine and heroin offered a respite for the drug sufferer, it did not complete the job that Lesane had envisioned his drug would do.

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Skyler Saunders

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