[Drugs] Morphine syrettes from WWII

[Entropy]

Had a student drop by in the office Tuesday and he asked an interesting question. He's a WWII buff, and recently acquired some of the morphine syrettes used in WWII.

He did have an interesting question about them, regarding the liquid that's still in them. He's wondering if it is still morphine, and how to dispose of it. It's an issue due to morphine's classification as a controlled substance. He's not interested in the morphine, but the cool syrette.

He stopped by my office and asked me, and I have to admit, I didn't know. After a brief look at literature, I still wasn't sure how stable morphine would be over that time frame. Most drugs are susceptible to oxidation over time, but I wasn't sure how liquid morphine would react.

Anyone have any experience with this before?

Here's a pic of a general syrette, not the ones in question.



From what I've heard/read, it sounds as if general disposal is down the sink. Can anyone verify that?

[Knooger]

Originally Posted by Entropy

From what I've heard/read, it sounds as if general disposal is down the sink. Can anyone verify that?

I'm sure there are a few here who would rather dispose of it in their arm.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by Knooger

I'm sure there are a few here who would rather dispose of it in their arm.

Truth.

Do you think your wife would know? She's an MD if I remember correctly.

[Bucwheat]

Not supposed to dispose of drugs down the sink.

[Corey_68]

Yeah definitely do not dispose down the sink.

I'd tell him to go to the nearest E.D./ urgent care and they can draw the morphine out into another syringe and place it in a sharps container to be destroyed. They way they take care of the drugs and he doesn't have to have his cool WII relic destroyed.

Very cool itiem.

[Meeko87]

Just yell "Oh shit the cops!", your student will find a quick way to dispose of it. Problem solved

[Yerf Dog]

What's the shelf life on something like that?

[DAB]

WWII Morphine / Morphine Styrettes - FIELD & PERSONAL GEAR - U.S. Militaria Forum

[Corey_68]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

What's the shelf life on something like that?

I'm sure most of its potency has diminished, I'd be more worried about bacteria, etc.... but that wouldnt stop the junkies around here.

I've personally caught them trying to dig dirty syringes out of a sharps container that has 200 dirty needles...he had around 7-8 punture wounds on his fingers.

[Jeff '79]

I've heard that morphine is stored in the vault of Fort Knox...
A Lot of it.. Tons of it, and it's good forever. The US stock piles it, and stores it along with the gold there.
I heard that from a soldier that was there, over twenty years ago.

[Corey_68]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

I've heard that morphine is stored in the vault of Fort Knox...
A Lot of it.. Tons of it, and it's good forever. The US stock piles it, and stores it along with the gold there.
I heard that from a soldier that was there, over twenty years ago.

Not denying you were told that, but what is his rationale for the government to do so?

And that medication will most certainly not "last forever" unless they have some grandiose storage facility. If so then why when it's cheap as hell and a horrible pain reliever in terms of analgesics.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Corey_68

Not denying you were told that, but what is his rationale for the government to do so?

And that medication will most certainly not "last forever" unless they have some grandiose storage facility. If so then why when it's cheap as hell and a horrible pain reliever in terms of analgesics.

He didn't give a rationale. He just said it was happening... Why? I have no idea why the gov does what it does sometimes.

[Fastguy]

Didn't any of you guys ever see "The Deep"?
That was the premise of the movie, they found a sunken hospital ship with a ton of those in the hold.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by Fastguy

Didn't any of you guys ever see "The Deep"?
That was the premise of the movie, they found a sunken hospital ship with a ton of those in the hold.

First thing that came to my mind.

[Grey Ghost]

I know from collecting CW relics, that if you mention anything to the .gov. They will flat out destroy it regardless of rarity or value.

Can't he just dig a small hole and squirt the stuff out ?

[Corey_68]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I know from collecting CW relics, that if you mention anything to the .gov. They will flat out destroy it regardless of rarity or value.

Can't he just dig a small hole and squirt the stuff out ?

I would think it would be worth more with the drug still in it, almost like it was in a time capsule.

Pouring it in a a hole in the ground is bad as well, it will find its way into the water table.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Corey_68

I would think it would be worth more with the drug still in it, almost like it was in a time capsule.

Pouring it in a a hole in the ground is bad as well, it will find its way into the water table.

Are you kidding me? It will be so diluted once it hits the dirt, it won't hurt a thing.

[Fastguy]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

Are you kidding me? It will be so diluted once it hits the dirt, it won't hurt a thing.

Oh yeah? Wait until you get attacked by a whacked out gopher, then you'll chahge your tune mr fancy pants!

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Fastguy

Oh yeah? Wait until you get attacked by a whacked out gopher, then you'll chahge your tune mr fancy pants!

I've partied with the best of 'em !...

[Corey_68]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

Are you kidding me? It will be so diluted once it hits the dirt, it won't hurt a thing.

because pouring drugs/chemicals in a hole in the ground is safe. I hope you're not in the waste disposal business.