@pete Well, this reminds me of this story, from David Ike, who had CIA people told him about this secret program... designed to ensure that scientists working on top secret black budget projects won't betray their organization, by making them dependent on certain medicine that only the CIA could produce. And these scientists would work their entire life for these CIA related organizations, and they shall not stop complying and obeying, shall not betray in any way, or else they were denied this special medicine (which came in the form of a battery placed under their skin, and needed to be replaced/recharged periodically), what would result in the most painful death imaginable, only to be reported as a case of heart failure.

Make whatever you want of this story. I believe it, and I have reasons to believe it.