The scope of this analysis is the technical comprehension of altered states of consciousness, including drowning, water intoxication, cocaine overdose, and cannabis intoxication, as well as their physiological and perceptual manifestations in children, adolescents, and adults.
ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
[DROWNING]
● Drowning is defined as a process resulting from submersion in a liquid leading to impaired respiration.
● Initial stages include panic, chest pressure, and an urgent need for air.
● Laryngospasm prevents immediate water entry but creates a choking sensation 😰.
● Once the reflex relaxes, water enters the lungs, producing bubbling rather than effective coughing.
● Hypoxia and hypercapnia generate dizziness, blurred vision, and confusion 🌊.
● Loss of consciousness precedes cardiac arrest and final death 🕊️.
[WATER INTOXICATION]
● Water intoxication, also called acute hyponatremia, appears when excessive water dilutes blood sodium.
● The kidneys eliminate up to one liter per hour, but higher intake overwhelms this capacity.
● Symptoms include headache, nausea, confusion, tremors, and seizures 🤯.
● Edema of brain cells causes coma and, if untreated, death.
● Documented fatalities include adults consuming 6–8 liters within hours.
● Children and soldiers represent vulnerable populations in published cases 🧂.
[COCAINE OVERDOSE]
● Cocaine overdose produces euphoria, paranoia, arrhythmia, and seizures.
● Initial phases create illusions of strength and invulnerability.
● Physiological effects include tachycardia, hypertension, and vasospasm ⚡.
● Subjective reports describe panic, chest pain, and fear of imminent collapse.
● Death results from myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, or fatal arrhythmia.
● A dose considered recreational may still cause serious complications ❤️.
[CANNABIS INTOXICATION]
● Cannabis intoxication alters perception of color, sound, and time.
● Blue shades appear deeper, vibrant, and layered 🌌.
● Music becomes immersive, perceived as surrounding the body 🎶.
● In children with accidental ingestion of edibles, somnolence and reversible coma dominate clinical cases.
● Adolescents may present euphoria, hyperactivity, raucous laughter, and red eyes.
● No confirmed deaths exist from cannabis overdose, though severe pediatric hospitalizations are reported 🐾.
INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE
● The term drowning originates from Old English “druncnian,” meaning to be engulfed in liquid.
● Water intoxication derives from Greek “hyponatremia,” combining “hypo” (low) and “natrium” (sodium). 🌊
● Cocaine comes from the coca plant, with etymology in Spanish “coca” and suffix “-ine.”
● Cannabis is derived from Latin “cannabis,” linked to earlier Greek and Scythian usage 🌱.
● Pediatric patients show reversible coma, vomiting, and disorientation after accidental cannabis ingestion.
● Adolescent patients demonstrate laughter, confidence, and distorted time perception, consistent with cannabis intoxication.
● Adult patients under cocaine demonstrate euphoria, paranoia, arrhythmia, and collapse 💥.
● Documented adult water intoxication cases include fatalities from 6–7 liters consumed rapidly.
● Physiological stages of drowning include laryngospasm, aspiration, hypoxia, and cardiac arrest.
● Each condition represents a distinct pathway to altered states of consciousness, either reversible or fatal 🕊️.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 