Imagine a drug that leaves you completely vulnerable, unable to take control of your decisions and awake the entire time. Sound scary? That’s the way scopolamine affects the body, and it’s why this drug is considered one of the scariest drugs in the world.
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When under the influence of scopolamine, people have been known to commit theft and perform other illegal acts. Afterward, the victims struggle with tremendous amounts of guilt, as they were at the mercy of the scopolamine drug. They may have little memory of the events, but they do remember that they were lured into criminal activities against their will.
Understanding Scopolamine
Ironically, scopolamine isn’t a medication that has been taken off the market or is only available on the street. It’s actually a pharmaceutical drug, and it is prescribed for people who have conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson’s and medical problems that cause uncontrollable muscle spasms. Scopolamine slows the responses of the body in terms of fluid production, pupil dilation and digestion. For the right people, scopolamine can have positive benefits. Unfortunately, it also has many unwanted side effects.
Scopolamine Side Effects Range From Mild to Severe
The mildest scopolamine side effects are dizziness or vision that’s blurred. However, for some people, scopolamine has also caused agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, and confusion. Overdoses can cause the body to shut down, resulting in convulsions or death. Those reactions can be exacerbated when alcohol or other drugs are introduced into the body, such as someone unintentionally taking scopolamine in a club or bar environment.
Like a date rape drug, scopolamine leaves the victim in an impossible state where he is open to suggestion. Even if the individual doesn’t want to do what is suggested, he complies — making it a dangerous and powerful drug.
How Scopolamine Is Taken
Scopolamine is taken by mouth when patients are prescribed the drug for home use. It can also be administered via an IV, directly into the muscles, or even subcutaneously by using a transdermal scopolamine patch. This patch is placed behind the ear, which is the same location used for other transdermal patches such as those that assist with motion sickness. In fact, some people have been prescribed scopolamine specifically for motion sickness if they will be traveling by boat, plane or car.
Scopolamine Is Legal but Dangerous
Although scopolamine is a completely legal drug when prescribed by a physician, it has been recently used for illicit purposes. This appears to be a growing trend. On the street, scopolamine is known as Devil’s Breath or burundanga. It has made headlines around the world, from Canada to Australia to Colombia, and there were at least 1,200 known cases reported in 2012 of the drug being used to force people – including politicians – into doing illegal things.
The zombie-like state that characterizes scopolamine side effects may sound like it belongs on your nearest TV screen, but it’s all too real for the victims. Many victims have reported going out for the night, only to awaken a few days later. They remember bits and pieces of what they did, but they aren’t completely sure how the puzzle pieces fit together. It isn’t until they learn about their actions (often through police reports) that they realize they were drugged.
Drug pushers and con artists can make money off scopolamine without having to do much dirty work. At a party, a con artist can simply slip some scopolamine into a person’s beverage or even encourage someone to wear a patch. Within a short period of time, the victim is entirely under the control of the con artist who then has the ability to tell the victim to do practically anything.
How Available Is Scopolamine?
Scopolamine can actually be manufactured outside the pharmaceutical factory with relative ease. The plants that make up the scopolamine drug are found in South America. They are from the Solanacae family of plants, and they’re not difficult to uncover in that part of the world. This means there is an abundance of potential for scopolamine to be made and distributed on the black market.
As anyone involved in the world of illegal drug products knows, it doesn’t take long for an easily-manufactured drug to be distributed around the globe. With many people unaware of scopolamine’s side effects, and the fact that it isn’t considered an illegal drug like crack cocaine, cocaine or heroin, it may not be noticeable at checkpoints. When shipped as transdermal patches, it can seem as innocuous as smoking cessation tools.
What to Do if You’re the Victim of Scopolamine
The victims of scopolamine are frequently embarrassed by what they’ve done while under the influence of this type of drug. They’re shocked by the actions they’ve taken and they may have a poor memory of the events. It’s this type of humiliation that keeps many individuals from coming forward after realizing they took the drug. However, coming forward is essential to stopping drug abuse.
Any victims of scopolamine, or any victims who think they might have been slipped the drug, are encouraged to talk to the local authorities as soon as possible. A medical test can show if scopolamine is still in the system, but if the victim waits too long, there may be no physical evidence available. Plus, the victim will have a greater chance of avoiding charges associated with robbery or other crimes if they come forward on their own.
How to Stop Using Scopolamine
Many individuals have started to use scopolamine recreationally as a way to escape from reality. If you find yourself seeking this kind of escape by using scopolamine or any other pharmaceutical or street drug, help is available.
Enroll in the drug treatment and recovery program at 12 Keys today. You’ll learn how to be happier and healthier, and you’ll also avoid the physical, emotional and social pitfalls that come with drug abuse and addiction. Contact our rehab center today to learn more.
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