Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction

by Judith Grisel

The crowning nefarious use of barbiturates is state-administered murder. Thirty-three U.S. states, plus the U.S. military and the federal government, authorize use of the death penalty. The preferred method is by lethal injection, and since 1976, 1,483 executions have been carried out using this method. A cocktail of three drugs is employed: the barbiturate sodium thiopental is used to induce unconsciousness, another to paralyze muscles, and a third to stop the heartbeat. The U.S. manufacturer of sodium thiopental stopped making the drug after its production moved to Italy and the government there threatened to ban its export unless the company could ensure it was not being used for this purpose. The shortage has somewhat slowed the pace of executions.