Investigating an ongoing "hype" of butane gas inalation (mostly from lighters) which is claiming victims in São Paulo (Brazil's largest city) police officers cracked down an Orkut community with 36 members advertising butane inalation for pleasure (Orkut: http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=11797956, taken down by Orkut since the news broke off). This could be already unbelievable, given the fact that butane gives no high, and is toxic to the point of being considered poisonous. Deaths from butane inhalation are not unheard of in Brazil's bigger cities, where gas pipes (no always in good shape) bring butane to homes.

But a considerable amount of wackos though that inhalating a poisonous gas is cool. Is this enough for a Darwin award (considering they were many)? Hold your breath! If this isn't enough, there is more...

O Globo newspaper found the sad tale of Ms. Suzana Muraca da Silva, a retired public servant, one of whose sons died after an addiction story that is really curious.

Allan Muraca, a waiter and martial arts adept, started smelling gas from disposable lighters (which are very cheap). He then moved on to smell the gas that pumps those noisome portable honks used in sports venues. Later he tried smelling helium, used at his work to fill baloons for kids. He eventually resorted to the most inane and curious addiction you have known so far: butane gas, which is sold bottled in large iron kegs and burned for cooking where gas pipes don't reach. Each standard keg contains 13 kilograms of pressurized liquid butane (about 28½ pounds). According to Ms. Muraca, in his last weeks, her son used to drain a keg every two days!

Before you lay the blame on the grieving widow, let me inform you that her son was 24 years old and that she tried to find professional help for him, but that was impossible because most doctors she sought failed to realize what was going on. Desperate, she tried to lock her son in a windowless room to keep him from inhalating, but he (who was very strong) tore down the door and escaped to his grandpa's house (not far away) and spent that afternoon "breezing" (that was the infamous term coined by the Orkuters to name their habit).

Allan was single, childless and, apparently, an only son.

Source (in Portuguese, but Babelfish may help):

http://oglobo.globo.com/sp/mat/2008/03/05/rapaz_morto_chegou_inalar_um_botijao_de_gas_cada_2_dias_achando_que_era_droga-426087776.asp

These other news are about a young lady who breezed to death from a honker: http://www.bonde.com.br/bondenews/bondenewsd.php?id=58&dt=20070304

Submitted on 03/07/2008

Submitted by: José Geraldo Gouvêa
Reference: O Globo (Brazilian newspaper) 2008/05/3 and others, see below

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I'm not sure that this is eligible for a DA (as it seems to be a trend rather than an individual act), but the specific victim mentioned here meets all the criteria, and this is alarming/different enough for me to want to keep/ I will let Darwin decide...

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
The story of Allan Muraca may qualify for a DA, but given he was apparently quite thoroughly addicted to this behavior I question the excellence involved. People with heavy addictions will do just about anything for their next "fix", and it's not all that uncommon. However this is a rather unique case in the wide range of gases he inhaled. I do think this is quite appropriate for Darwin to take a look at. Thanks, José!

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