Apparently this fella was on the run from the police, was chased all around town, and in typical America’s Most Wanted fashion he rammed a police car while trying to get away. Except he was in Lancashire rather than Texas. But I digress.

The article reports that this rampage (described lovingly in the article as “high-jinx”, though the man was convicted of attempted car-jacking using a syringe as a weapon – oh what larks!) was fuelled by half an ounce of speed.

Thats more than 14 grams, metric fans!

Considering the LD-50 of dextroamphetamine sulphate is 98mg/kg, 50% of people (of average weight – 86kg) would be dead at 8.6 grams of speed. This man had taken almost double that – enough to put down an average Black Bear.

So, anyway, I hear you cry, he’s probably getting really rubbish speed, and he may well have had a serious habit and a very high tolerance.Yeah, yeah, you’re right, but it did get me thinking: -

Obviously the Guinness Book of records won’t hold data on this, but what is the highest recorded use of controlled substances without fatality? Are there any stories of Tony Montana-like consumption out there?

And a quick one for you coffee drinkers – the LD-50 of caffeine is only twice that of speed, at 192mg/kg. So based on info from the British Coffee Association, half of you would die if  you drank 35 double espressos.

Anyone for Starbucks?