Teens across the country have found a new way to get high. The new “drug” costs less than $1 and has the same effects as LSD. Somehow they’ve discovered that eating seeds and plants can have intoxicating effects, including hallucinations and euphoria.
The only trouble is many of these plants can have severe symptoms, including death. Jimson weed, morning glory, Hawaiian baby woodrose, oleander, foxglove, and angel’s trumpet appear to be the kinds teens use to get high.
If you find a packet of these seeds in your teen’s room, be sure to ask questions about how they intend to use them. Dr. Michael Lynch of the Pittsburgh Poison Center says they receive 20 to 30 calls per year about these seed overdoses.
“Taking too much of that can cause the heart rate to slow way down, have abnormal heart rhythms, and even death. So that would probably be the most dangerous class of plants,” Dr. Lynch said. “It’s not even, ‘be careful.’ It’s ‘don’t do it.’”
Other issues include serotonin syndrome, high blood pressure, and delirium.
“They can make you sick. Any time you’re not in control is a problem,” said Heather Knapp of Hahn’s Nursery. “And like I said, some of them can be lethal. They can kill you. I’m really not exaggerating. That’s what it is.”
Dr. Lynch says the best way to prevent teens from engaging in this trend is to talk with them. If you believe your teen has ingested these seeds call 911 or poison control.
Symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
“Open and frank discussions about the dangers of things that might not seem that dangerous on the surface,” Dr. Lynch said.
Source http://www.littlethings.com/
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