Death sticks were a mild hallucinogen drug primarily sold on Outer Rim worlds, but could be found in abundance on Coruscant. Originally developed in the illegal pharmaceutical labs of CoCo Town, they were relatively cheap and were smuggled into the clubs of cities by slythmongers. The cilona extract offered euphoria in exchange for a horrific outcome, producing a twisted version of reality enhanced by bright colors. With each dose, the user’s life was shortened, and the successive dosages took away larger chunks from a lifespan. With each successive dose, the desire for a harder reaction increased. It was thus very difficult for a youth to shake off their addiction without medical assistance.
Death sticks came in two typical forms. In liquid form, they consisted of small tubes of red or yellow ixetal cilona fluid, which could be added to an alcoholic drink (some mixed them with Fizzyglug) or injected intravenously. A hardened variety containing dried granules of the drug could be smoked or pulverized and then insufflated. When ingested, the drug was capable of greatly weakening a person’s connection to the Force.
Rehabilitation for death stick addiction was available at medical centers at a cost of typically 2,500 to 3,500.