NCJ Number
189881
Date Published
September 1998
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report produced by the National Drug Intelligence Center presented in-depth information on the composition, physical effects, availability and abuse, and legal status of the hallucinogen jimsonweed (Datura stramonium).
Abstract
This report provided overview of the hallucinogenic drug jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) sought by high school students seeking a no-cost hallucinogenic high. In addition to being an alternative to other costly drugs, easy access and limited legal restrictions have made jimsonweed a viable substitute. This report focused on three aspects of jimsonweed: description, composition, and physical effects; availability and abuse; and legal status. Jimsonweed is usually consumed in herbal tea mixtures; however, the seeds, leaves, and flower nectar can also be eaten or smoked. The high consists of delirium and hallucinations, with no antidote for poisoning, only treatment. Symptoms often include blurred vision, confusion, agitation, and combative behavior. Incidents of jimsonweed use in 1994 were high but declined sharply in 1996 resulting from a potential increase in awareness of the plant’s harmful effects. Jimsonweed grows wild throughout the continental United States. Ingestion of the drug has led to seizures, coma, and even death. With all the potential harmful and deadly effects, jimsonweed is not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. However, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Tennessee are among States that have passed some form of legislation to control jimsonweed. Increased awareness of the drug’s potential deadly consequences was seen as the key to curtailing the appeal of the plant.