Does nitrogen narcosis mimic alcohol use?

[DennisW]

Walter, very true. Another difference, I have never hallucinated while under the influence of alcohol, but I know I have when Narc'd.

 

[gregorio]

I would say that it is more like smoking pot.
It can have several effect according to your own mood and surrouding atmosphere.

 

[shark.byte.usa]

I would say that it is more like smoking pot.
It can have several effect according to your own mood and surrouding atmosphere.

I agree with this, based on my 1 (noticeably) narced limited experience, it felt like High School all over again Which probably goes along with Walter's lowering IQ and "getting stupider" thought. It also mentally affects similarly IMO, while some get comfortable, disregard their surroundings, gauges, hallucinate, etc; some will get paranoid, edgy, etc. But you can't very well explain it to the masses like that, "Students it's like taking a couple hits from a doobey every 60ft"

-Garrett

 

[Walter]

Walter, very true. Another difference, I have never hallucinated while under the influence of alcohol, but I know I have when Narc'd.

You sure have - at about 90 feet.

 

[DandyDon]

I think that narcosis can vary too much on different dives for the same diver for a direct comparison, but somewhat similar in feeling to me...

I would say, no. You know when you are drunk, you don't always know when you are under the effects of Nitrogen Narcosis. A lot of people will say they have never been Narc'd. They have been, they just never knew it. That is a different effect than alcohol. Although Nitrogen Narcosis affects your judgement and your ability to work problems, similar to alcohol, they are not totally the same. When I am aware of being Narc'd, I have some paranoia, I may feel like I can't breathe very well, and I am uncomfortable. I have never had those feelings when I was drunk.

I take it that you've always been a light drinker...??

I really think that those of who have had heavy drinking days in our past have had more in common with the various narcosis hits, and have an easier time dealing with the latter. But yeah, I've had many times in years past I didn't know I was drunk when I obviously to others was....

I remember reading a while back an article on narcosis and one of the points discussed was that it appears that divers that drink alcohol seem to be either (1) less susceptible to narcosis (2) better able to function when under the effects of narcosis.

Unfortunately I didn't save the article.

Rickg

I'm not the only one here on SB who has voiced the feelings I gave above - that previous heavy drinking habits gave an edge in dealing with narcosis

I try to remind myself that narcosis actually starts as soon as I descend, gets stronger as I get deeper, and is indeed having an affect even tho I don't feel it.

I would say that it is more like smoking pot.
It can have several effect according to your own mood and surrouding atmosphere.

That one I've had no experience with.

 

[Rishidian]

I can say that I feel no differently between narcosis and alcohol. Thank god there's helium!

All the best, James

It makes me wonder...does the helium still make you talk funny at 100+fsw?

 

[Rishidian]

"Students it's like taking a couple hits from a doobey every 60ft"

-Garrett

The Doobey Buddies!!

 

[Dr Deco]

Hello mikerault:

I do not know any of the subtleties of different drugs, but there are similarities and differencces between nitrogen narcosis and alcohol. These might include:

Similarities

a. a variable onset that varies from day to day,
b. an individual can not predict the degree of impairment, and
c. the individual often does not recognize the degree of impairment.

Differences

a. the onset of alcohol’s effects can depend on the concentration (e.g., beer or whiskey) in the stomach,
b. the onset of nitrogen narcosis is rapid with descent,
c. the effects dissipate quickly with ascent,
d. there are not any metabolic products from nitrogen and a “hangover” is not experienced.

Other Effects

Most folks will understand that alcohol is a poison and can give you GI cancer, pancreatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Nitrogen does not do this. It does give you the bends, however, while alcohol does not.:light:

I am not a specialist on narcosis, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Remmber, Breathe Responsibly

Dr Deco :doctor:

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I would be curious to see that article on the relation between handling being intoxicated and handling being narced

 

[Rickg]

I haven't been able to find the same article but I did run across this.

http://www.andreadoria.org/TheDeep/LifeDivers/Life Divers.htm

"Let's say I wouldn't want it to be any deeper. Look: from about 150 feet down you start getting more and more reaction from nitrogen in the compressed air you're breathing. The deeper you go, the worse it gets. The nitrogen starts acting like an anesthetic and begin getting nitrogen narcosis-the thing Cousteau calls 'rapture of the depths.' The narcosis won't hurt you in itself, but it can reduce mental powers to those of a staggering drunk.

"Matter of fact, there's an interesting parallel there. You can equate depth tolerance with alcohol tolerance; the guy who gets blind on few very dry martinis may become extremely dangerous to himself and his buddy at 150 feet; the guy who can drink six without batting an eye can function-maybe-at 250. But one loses some resourcefulness past 150."

Rickg