It has been revealed what adrenochrome is and how it is connected to conspiracy theories.

Adrenochrome is a chemical element that regularly pops up in various conspiracy theories. Let's try to understand what this substance is, under what conditions it forms, and why it attracts the attention of conspiracy theorists.

Adrenochrome is formed during the oxidation of adrenaline, a stress hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response in the brain. Despite the similarity in name, this substance has no relation to the metal chromium: the suffix "chromium" merely refers to the dark purple hue of the samples, RBK reports.

Scientific interest in adrenochrome arose in the second half of the 20th century, when American researchers conducted a series of experiments to determine its effects on the human body. In 1954, psychiatrists Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond suggested that excess adrenochrome in the brain could contribute to the development of schizophrenia, derealization, and other mental disorders, but this hypothesis was subsequently refuted. In 1967, the same authors proposed using high doses of vitamins C and B3 to "neutralize" the substance, but the effectiveness of this approach was not confirmed in subsequent studies.

The connection between adrenochrome and schizophrenia has never been convincingly confirmed, but this didn't stop 20th-century writers from attributing psychedelic properties to the substance. In Anthony Burgess's famous novel "A Clockwork Orange," the characters consume milk laced with "adrenochrome." Hunter S. Thompson, in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," described the effects of adrenochrome and invented a mythical method for extracting it—allegedly from the adrenal glands of a living person, noting that the substance is "worthless" from a corpse. The film crew of the book explained that the episode was fictitious and that a real, potent drug by that name does not exist.

The experiences of those who claimed to have tried adrenochrome also don't support the legendary psychedelic effect. In his book "Adrenochrome and Other Mythical Drugs," Spanish writer Eduardo Downing noted the substance's zero psychedelic potential, comparing its effects to a cup of coffee. Reviews on the resource Erowid describe mild effects: occasional rapid heartbeat, profuse sweating, and a severe headache, but no hallucinations. One respondent recalled excruciating two-hour pain, followed by periodic relapses, ironically declaring that "there were no hallucinations, unless the pain was imagined."

Nevertheless, the myth of adrenochrome's powerful narcotic effects has taken hold in popular culture and migrated into 21st-century literature, film, and television. The British series Lewis featured scenes of addicts extracting the substance from a living person's adrenal glands; Terry Pratchett's The Hat and the Stave features a character who allegedly ingests adrenochrome; and the 2017 film Adrenochrome depicts a group of maniacs murdering people to extract the compound.

The myth gradually migrated from popular culture to the internet. As early as 2013-2014, a flood of materials with apocalyptic claims about "adrenochrome extraction" emerged on the anonymous forum 4chan. In the following years, the conspiracy theory grew in scope, fueled by political events, particularly the 2016 US elections.

According to a widespread conspiracy theory, certain "global elites"—high-ranking politicians, celebrities, cultural figures, and journalists—supposedly participate in bloody rituals involving the torture of children, after which adrenochrome is extracted from their bodies. According to the legend, these "elites" are so addicted to this substance that they cannot exist without it. This theory continues to circulate on social media: users with profiles adorned with American flags or Make America Great Again (MAGA) slogans share memes and "exposés," supporting and expanding on the myth.

The conspiracy theory combines elements of QAnon and ancient anti-Semitic "blood libel" fabrications. The ritual aspect of the theory echoes centuries-old anti-Semitic fabrications about the supposed ritual use of blood, while QAnon adds themes about pedophilia and cannibalism among the "elites," while praising Donald Trump as a supposed savior destined to expel these "Satanists." Researchers note that QAnon acts as an "umbrella" theory, capable of absorbing elements of other conspiracy narratives—from the Kennedy assassination to UFO theories and the events of 9/11.

As with many similar stories, the core of the myth is based on a true fact: adrenochrome does exist and is a product of adrenaline oxidation. However, scientific evidence does not support its connection to mental illness, and the actual effects of its use, according to available evidence, are limited to headaches, tachycardia, and a mild stimulating effect, rather than vivid hallucinations. The theory that adrenochrome is extracted exclusively from dying children has no scientific basis and is essentially a mixture of anti-Semitic fabrications and politically motivated insinuations.

So, adrenochrome is a real chemical compound, a product of adrenaline oxidation, but it does not possess the narcotic or psychedelic properties ascribed to it by legend. The conspiracy theories surrounding it exploit old myths and modern political narratives to discredit opponents and manipulate public opinion, although no credible evidence of "extracting" the substance from humans or its supposedly special effects has been presented.

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