Sleepers
Overview
While kassa is the most popular addictive substance after the fall of the Goa'uld, there are more dangerous addictions lurking in the corners of Milky Way. Goa'uld technology has found its way into the hands of many populations. One such technology is the sarcophagus. Limited use can heal the wounds of any who use it to the point it can bring the recently dead back to life. But concurrent or even needless use is not only addictive but it affects brain chemistry. Those addicted to the sarcophagus are called sleepers.
Sleepers
Sleepers refer to those addicted to the sarcophagus. After repeated use, sleepers are much healthier than other individuals of their species. But that comes at the cost of their mind. Severity of the side effects depend on how frequently the sarcophagus is used and when the last time it was used. Side effects include severe mood swings, often going from euphoric to extreme and often violent anger, dilated pupils, increasing apathy especially toward individuals around them, sensitivity to light, and psychosis. Sleepers often undergo severe personality changes and those who are addicted for too long will not revert back to their former selves. Many addicts cannot even quit without dying. Sleepers see rapidly improving physical performance such as improved strength and endurance. The most heavily addicted are often very obvious as they will possess a dazed and even crazed look on their face. Another factor of the addiction is the race. Jaffa are resistant (though not immune) to addiction with jaffa who still carry symbiotes even more so. Goa'uld are not addicted per se and will not suffer any withdraw if they stopped using a sarcophagus. But they still receive the physical benefits and feel the euphoria from repeated use though they cannot escape what it does to the mind.
History
After the fall of the Goa'uld, their technology was seized and distributed. Most of it was taken by the jaffa but some were taken by the humans. Some sarcophagi made its way into human hands because the jaffa gave it to them due to the humans' lack of medical technology. Humans are more susceptible to addiction than the jaffa but the jaffa are not immune. Eventually, humans and jaffa discovered how addicting the sarcophagus is, using it even when unnecessary.
A few people saw the profits they could make from this an acquired sarcophagi either by taking them from abandoned Goa'uld outposts, stealing them from the jaffa, or stealing them from the humans. They would proceed to set up an underground business, letting anyone use the sarcophagus for the right price. The term 'sleepers' emerged because of the language used when communicating that someone wanted to use the sarcophagus. Those that were caught were observed often using analogies to sleep or exhaustion, such as saying they were 'tired' or 'sleepy' or is 'looking for a place to sleep'. Some sleepers forgo buying use of the sarcophagus and try to sneak into an installation that has one to use that.
Many sleepers become violent criminals ranging from simple murderers to attempting to start more organized gangs. There are rumors of addicts who maintain enough control to not use the sarcophagus enough that it degrades their mind but these rumors cannot be confirmed.
