Marijuana, opium, morphine, heroin, paraldehyde and cocaine were all heavily consumed. It was considered to have superior sedative effects to both paraldehyde and chloral hydrate. It was believed that he died of an overdose of paraldehyde. Generic paraldehyde is available in 5 mL sealed glass ampoules. Three molecules of acetaldehyde condense to form "paraldehyde", a cyclic trimer containing C-O single bonds. Paraldehyde is the cyclic trimer of acetaldehyde molecules. Today, paraldehyde is sometimes used to treat status epilepticus. At the time of the incident, Dorothy Smith had been taking barbiturates and paraldehyde. Three molecules of acetaldehyde condense to form paraldehyde, a cyclic trimer containing C-O single bonds. Paraldehyde can be produced in good yields, using a sulfuric acid catalyst. Paraldehyde has been given orally, rectally, intravenously and by intramuscular injection. Paraldehyde slowly oxidizes in air, turning brown and producing an odour of acetic acid.