Truth Serum
By Mark Steer
From Jack Bauer to Harry Potter, truth drugs are commonplace in fiction, but they do have a basis in fact. The most famous is probably is barbiturate, sodium pentothal – a delightful chemical which is also used in lethal injections.In small doses the chemical makes the neural membranes more permeable to chloride ions, which has the effect of removing people’s inhibitions and relieving tension and anxiety. Someone who has been injected with a small dose is likely to become very chatty, easier to manipulate and less likely to lie since it takes less mental effort to tell the truth. A higher dose will knock them out in about 15 seconds.
However, as with most things, it is not infallible – practised liars or someone with an entrenched cover story could easily survive a course of truth drug with their secrets in tact.
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| Sodium pentothal used to be commercially available. |
Whilst evidence collected whilst subjects are under the influence of sodium pentothal is unlikely to be inadmissible in court this hasn’t stopped it being used in recent times. In 2005 the serum was used unsuccessfully on Al Qaeda’s third in command, Abu Faraj al-Libbi when he was captured by Pakistani and American forces.
Effectiveness
Truth drugs are partially effective, but are just a bit too sinister and prone to the intrusion of bullshit to be worth contemplating. 3/5
Ethics
I don’t think we’ll be seeing them introduced into confessionals any time soon. 1/5
How to get out of it
Know your cover story better than the truth. If Harry Potter's involved, you're screwed.
Back to Top Ten Ways to Get the Truth
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