Hazardous Substances
Tropicamide (Eye Drops Abuse)
Street names: Tropicamide, Mydriacyl, Tropicacyl, Russian drops
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Anticholinergic deliriant when ingested — pupils blown, dry madness; a real street drug in parts of Russia
⚠Key risks
- THE CIS SCENE: tropicamide ingestion/injection is documented Russian street misuse — cheap, pharmacy-available, anticholinergic toxidrome
- Full delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia; psychosis admissions
- IV eye-drops: infections, particulate damage
- Teen TikTok-adjacent dares spreading the practice
✚Overdose signs
- Blown pupils, dry skin
- Racing heart, agitation
- Delirium, seizures
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropicamide (Eye Drops Abuse) | Rx/OTC eye drops; unscheduled | THE CIS SCENE: tropicamide ingestion/injection is documented Russian street misuse — cheap, pharmacy-available, anticholinergic toxidrome; Full delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia; psychosis admissions | $2–$8 per bottle |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Tropicamide (Eye Drops Abuse) look like?
Ophthalmic 0.5–1% drops; ingested or injected in the Russian/CIS scene
What are the signs of a Tropicamide (Eye Drops Abuse) overdose?
Blown pupils, dry skin; Racing heart, agitation; Delirium, seizures Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
THE CIS SCENE: tropicamide ingestion/injection is documented Russian street misuse — cheap, pharmacy-available, anticholinergic toxidrome Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.