A Surprising New Substance... Jenkam

As an addictions counselor, it is rare that I'm truly amazed at the extent to which addicts will go in order to achieve a high. It almost seems too familiar when I hear about people ingesting dozens of cold tablets or drinking hand sanitizer in order to escape themselves. The recent fad of Jenkam has taken me a bit by surprise, however.

In the case you are unfamiliar, in case you haven't heard, Jenkam is a high that is induced by inhaling the fumes of feces. To be specific, a combination of human feces and urine is kept in a sealed container and allowed to ferment, often for days in the sun. When ripe, the cap is removed and the person inhales deeply holding their breathe repeatedly until high. I can't say it's exactly "all the rage" with the kids, but it has been mentioned in the popular press. And it appears to be spreading

I can't quite understand how someone was able to determine that this combination would be able to produce a high. I can't imagine the level of desperation that would lead someone to try it in the first place.

I take that last statement back, actually maybe I can. Drug addiction has little to do with substance and everything to do with the result. The addict has an enduring and incessant need to get and stay high. Maybe it's not surprising that the same disease that leads people to violate their basic moral codes--that leads them to betray friends, steal from employers, rob family members, sell their bodies--would lead them to try anything to give them that high. Even if that meant inhaling their own feces--and holding their breath.