“All things are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy” (Jickells & Negrusz, 2012). In today’s society, the use and abuse of drugs can be seen in all populations and generations. The desire to obtain euphoria is a driving force in the abuse of drugs. The most prevalent drugs are plant based or synthetic counterparts; cannabis, cocaine, diamorphine, or heroin. As drugs become main stream, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is set with the responsibility of placing such materials on the controlled substances list. The DEA looks at the drugs medicinal uses and potential for addiction. As more and more substances become regulated by government administrations, individuals looking …show more content…
Extracts have been known to treat asthma, intestinal cramps, diarrhea, and bed wetting. Datura is most often abused by young adolescents in an effort to experience a “legal high,” however, the negative experience associated with the high tends to steer users away from repeat experimentation. Datura is referred to as a legal high, as it is not listed as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Several states such as, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have enacted legislation requiring regulatory controls on Datura Stramonium and its alkaloids. Although atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine data are reported to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS), a DEA database, it is undetermined if the source was from Datura Stramonium or another botanical species. In 2011, there were 37 atropine reports, 16 hyoscyamine reports, and 3 scopolamine reports from Federal, state, and local forensic laboratories. Anticholinergic plant poisonings reported American Association of poison Control Center’s National Poison Database (NPDS), suggest a raising trend in Datura use. Between the years 1983-1987, NPDS reported 74 intentional anticholinergic plant poisonings annual, in comparison to 2004-2008, NPDS reported 427 poisonings annually (Vearrier & Greenberg, …show more content…
(2012, April). Retrieved May 2015, from http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_stramonium Drug Enforcement Administration. (2013, January). Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium). Retrieved May 2015 Jickells, S., & Negrusz, A. (2012). Clarke's Analytical Forensic Toxicology. Rao, K. N. (n.d.). Forensic Toxicology: Medicolegal Case Studies. Sara Alarcon, A. P. (2000). Datura Stramonium. Retrieved 2015 May, from Medicinal Plants of the Southwest: http;//medplant.nmsu/datura.html Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Siezed Drugs. (2015). Retrieved May 2015, from http://www.swgdrug.org/ University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2014, April). Jimsonweed (Datura Stramonium). Retrieved May 2015, from http;//www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/jimsonweed.html Vearrier, D., & Greenberg, M. I. (2010). Anticholinergic delirium following Datura Stramonium ingestion; Implications for the Internet Age. Jouran of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock. Wiebe, T. H., Sigurdson, E., & Katz, L. Y. (2008). Angel's Trumpet (Datura stramonium) poisoning and delirium in adolescents in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Summer
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Use of the plant really dates back to the Ancient civilization of Mexico, such as the Aztecs and various other tribes surrounding the area (Hoffman, 2011). The seeds of local variety of Morning Glory were known as Ololiuqui by the native people, and often considered sacred by them. However much of the Western world hadn't known much about these plants until “Francisco Hernandez, a...
MDMA or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a strong stimulant and hallucinogen at the same time. The drug was originally created and patented in “1913 by Alexander Shulgin”, (Saunders, 10) who had a fascination with the effect of drugs on fighting fish in an attempt to discover a therapeutic drug, not knowing that he created the basis of an illegal street drug that is flowing through the veins of our society, slowly infecting our population. The drug was
In examining this perennial herb, turned weed, we will learn where it came from, where it grows and the impact it has had on North American ecosystems. We will also review control methods, both successful and unsuccessful.
The altered states of consciousness produced by drugs presents an all-to-common phenomenon in today’s society. Whether the desired sensation comes in the form of energy, a means of relaxation, or pain reduction, many people go to great lengths and present their bodies to threatening conditions in order to achieve this euphoric “high.” Unfortunately, the use of these drugs very often comes with dangerous side effects that users must learn to manage with for the rest of their life. According to neuroscientists, our entire conscious existence bases itself off of the lighting-fast reactions occurring in our nervous system (Nichols, 2012). Therefore, changing these neurological reactions can permanently effect our conscious being (Blatter, 2012). The physical and neurological effects from the use and abuse of stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, organic solvents, and athletic performance enhancing drugs will be discussed in order to better comprehend why certain individuals expose themselves to such dangerous materials with seemingly no regard to the permanent consequences associated with such actions.
the use of LSD has dropped dramatically. Although the drug made a strong comeback in the 1990s, LSD use once again appeared to be on the decline during the early years of the twenty-first century. In the 2010 NHSDA survey, 71.5 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 perceived great risk in using LSD once or twice a week, compared to the 76.2 percent who saw great risk in using LSD once or twice a week in 2002. About 12.9 percent of youth indicated that LSD would be fairly or very easily available. Between 2002 and 2010, there were decreases in the perceived easy availability of LSD (from 19.4 to 12.9
There have been hundreds of cases involving various hallucinogens ranging from petty theft to murder. Why a few of these individuals are able to attain a lesser charge, be acquitted, or be placed into a psychiatric ward may be better understood with background of how these drugs impact the human brain and body.
Common names for Datura are numerous, some of the most common ones being raving nightshade, thorn apple, stinkweed, Devil's apple, Jimson weed, and angel's trumpet (Heiser 1969:140 and Avery 1959:19). Datura can be found throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas as either native or adventive plants, and some have also been found in Africa and Australia (Conklin 1976:5). The epicenter of diversity of this plant is in the New World, specifically in Andean South America and in the southwestern United States/Mexico region (Lewis 1977:423-4). This data correlates with the generally agreed upon origin of Datura, although this topic was debated for some time. Researchers now believe the plant originated and evolved in Mexico and the American Southwest, followed by adaptive radiation into new desert environments (Conklin 1976:5).
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
Iqbal & Hamayun (2005) explored ethnobotanic of Malam Jabba (Swat) and reported a total of 187 species belonging to 75 families. These plants were categorised as medicinal plants, agricultural tool making, agro forestry based plants, ornamental, honey bee attracting, vegetable and pot herb, fencing and and sheltering, poisonous, timber yielding plants and plants yielding edible fruits. Due to high biotic pressure, many important medicinal plants like Valeriana Jatamansi, Paeonia emodi, Acorus calamus, Podophylum hexandrum and were at the edge of extinction. Hamayun et al (2005) explored ethnomedicinal study in Hindukush-Himalayan valleys of Gabral and Utror (...