If you read that headline and thought, Nutmeg addiction? Is that even possible? The answer is a resounding yes — and the effects of raw nutmeg abuse are extremely strong.
Already banned in Saudi Arabia, nutmeg intoxication causes a diverse range of unpleasant physical and psychological effects. And while the ground nutmeg in your spice rack may not be enough to cause a fatal overdose, it’s time to pay attention to raw nutmeg drug addiction.
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The Physical and Psychological Effects of Nutmeg
Raw nutmeg in large quantities, and ground directly from a whole nutmeg, contains a strong chemical called myristicin. Myristicin is a powerful psychoactive substance that causes delirium. It also causes nausea, convulsions, heart palpitations, dehydration and pain. Although death from nutmeg overdose is rare, it is possible. People who abuse nutmeg seek an excited state and hallucinogenic effects, which take several hours to achieve but can last for several days. Nutmeg also affects animals, which is why it is unwise to let your dog drink eggnog.
Nutmeg and Addiction
Addiction to nutmeg is a serious problem. Just because a whole nutmeg is a legal substance, it should not be ignored. In fact, there is a wide range of common household items that people use to get high. If you find that someone you love is abusing these substance, you should treat it as a red flag that addiction might be a problem.
You can also tell if your loved one is addicted to nutmeg or other substances by watching for:
- Obvious signs of abuse, coupled with hiding evidence, lying about or denying drug abuse.
- Subtle changes in behavior, such as spending less time participating in once-loved activities.
- Changes in who your loved one spends time with or spending more time alone.
- A growing preoccupation with finding and using drugs or alcohol.
- Poor performance at work or school, or adverse changes in relationships and reputation.
Nutmeg Facts and Statistics
You may not have known that nutmeg abuse is a developing problem, but poison control centers across the country are alerting parents that its use is on the rise. Consider:
- There were 67 cases of nutmeg exposure in 2010, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
- The AAPCC reports that while nutmeg abuse is rare, it is “periodically rediscovered,” and small clusters of abuse form.
- The biggest nutmeg abuse epidemics occurred in the early 1900s, the mid-1960s and again today.
- Physicians point to the Internet as a big reason why nutmeg is becoming more popular.
- Physicians and poison control professionals also state that the phenomenon is usually short-lived, because the side effects of nutmeg abuse are so unpleasant.
12 Keys Rehab
If someone you know is abusing nutmeg, household chemicals or other drugs to get high, it might be time to consider inpatient drug treatment. At 12 Keys Rehab, we help people recover from the effects of addiction every day. We’ve seen miracles, and we can help.
For more information about our holistic recovery program, call 12 Keys Rehab now.
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