Setting limits on dopamine... ideas?

[Bio-Cellular Enigma]

Observing a friend recently (researching a certain stimulant substance), SWIM was struck by the necessity for some kind of solid beginning and end-point with any research involving substances that increase or inhibit the reuptake of dopamine.

The beginning is there by default, but what defines the end? Left entirely alone, the only automatic one SWIM is aware of is when the substance in question runs out. This is obviously not sufficient in most cases.

SWIM had a minor brainstorm on this, and suggests researchers always create a solid endpoint before researching any substance in this category. It should be just as solid as if the substance ran out and was gone, as self-control can become as much a liability as an asset where brain chemistry issues are concerned. There's a lot of room for imagination here. Defining a time or place would be a good start, but it has to go much further than that. Ingestion of a potent dopamine antagonist would immediately terminate research, but there are clearly risks involved with this.

Comments, input, ideas? Or is "will power" sufficient to research these substances with minimal risk involved?

[Broshious]

Giving the whole supply of drugs to a trusted friend seems like it could work. Make sure they know to only give SWIY one dose and then refuse SWIY no matter what. SWIM has even heard of this sort of thing happening with dealers who are friends with the user. The dealer will refuse to sell the user more.

[Bio-Cellular Enigma]

That idea entered SWIM's mind as well, but circumstances won't always be amenable to it. Most people have a trusted friend or two, but they probably aren't researchers themselves and may not want to get involved for a variety of reasons. SWIM is not sure he himself would want to act as the "trusted friend" in matters like this! It depends on the substance and the researcher SWIM is friends with.

Self-invented techniques have some degree of potential, provided the researcher is really serious about it. One idea that crossed SWIM's mind would be to purchase a combination lock + strongbox (with combination unknown to the researcher but written on paper), put the substance in the box and attach the lock. The combination could then be mailed to oneself through UPS or postal mail, perhaps even with a scheduled delivery date.

The more SWIM thinks about this one, the more he likes it. Would it be viable more than once is the question though.

[Broshious]

How about a timelock? SWIM thinks he found some pretty cheap (20-30 bucks). So unless SWIY goes crazy enough to smash open the lock it seems pretty fool proof.

[Bio-Cellular Enigma]

Originally Posted by Broshious

How about a timelock? SWIM thinks he found some pretty cheap (20-30 bucks). So unless SWIY goes crazy enough to smash open the lock it seems pretty fool proof.

SWIM isn't familiar with time locks; where are they usually sold? He can't envision what they would normally be used for.

[Broshious]

Originally Posted by Bio-Cellular Enigma

SWIM isn't familiar with time locks; where are they usually sold? He can't envision what they would normally be used for.

SWIM saw some on Ebay. As far as SWIM knows they're used for safes. A lot of fastfood places have stickers that say "Protected by timelock safe". Therefore robbing the place won't net someone the big bucks most of the time. SWIM isn't certain what he saw on Ebay would be easily useable, but he just wanted to throw it out there.

[eltimmy]

Willpower? Meditation? Having better things to do? Directed action?

SWIM isn't a robot.