On July 14, 2004 Eric Sears and Ben Fogelstrom went on a camping trip to Joshua Tree State Park in California. The two seventeen year olds had recently graduated from Carlsbad High School. Ben reported Eric missing the following day. He told authorities they had both drank a tea made from Jimson weed. Ben also gave conflicting statements about how Eric disappeared, and at one point stated he knew that Eric was dead and that he had disposed of his friend's body. Ben also told investigators that he had difficulty distinguishing hallucinations from reality. He remembered speaking to a bush, an Indian, and possibly to Eric. There was an intensive search and rescue operation, but Eric's body was not found until July 23rd. The cause of death could not be determined on autopsy because Eric's body was too badly decomposed. No obvious trauma was found. However, two chemicals, atropine and scopolamine, toxins found in Jimson weed, were found in his brain tissue. One way or the other, the use of Jimson weed by Sears and Fogelstrom, was a factor in Eric's death. This story actually gets even sadder. Two men, Scott Johnston and Philip Calvert, who were en route to Joshua Tree Park to assist in the search for Eric, were killed by a driver who was under the influence of multiple illicit drugs.
Jimson weed, locoweed, stink weed, mad apple and thorn apple are street names for the foul-smelling Datura stramonium plant. It is one of a group of plants known as belladonnas. Datura stramonium is a common weed found along roadsides, in cornfields, pastures, and waste areas. It has been reported in every state except Wyoming and Alaska. Although not a popular street drug, it is usually used by teenagers curious about the plant's hallucinogenic and euphoric effects. Adolescents most typically use Jimson weed with peers. All parts of the plant are toxic and usage can result in serious illness or death. Recreational users may ingest seeds or prepare Jimson-based tea or cigarettes. It can take up to hours for someone to feel the plant's effects, so people often consume excessive amounts believing the seeds were not working. Potency is impossible to predict. The toxicity of Jimson weed varies by year, between plants, parts of the plant, and even among different leaves on the same plant. As few as a dozen Jimson weed seeds taken orally or one leaf brewed into a tea or smoked can produce nausea, headache, severe agitation, hallucinations, behavioral changes or delirium. Approximately 1,000 cases of poisoning by anticholinergic plants (including Jimson weed) are reported annually to poison control centers. Usage increases between May and September when Jimson weed plants are mature. The overwhelming majority of users of Jimson weed report that their experiences were very unpleasant, physically dangerous, and sometimes terrifying. Few people use it twice. Even a one time usage can have tragic effects.
What is the lure to experiment with Jimson weed? The effects of the drug have been described as being in a living dream and can last for days. Jimson weed has extremely powerful psychoactive effects including hallucinations, delusions, disorientation, confusion, and panic. Jimson weed is an extremely potent and unusual hallucinogen. Unlike psilocybin or LSD, jimson weed causes true hallucinations which cannot be distinguished from reality. Users have no concept that anything they are talking to, seeing, or running from isn't actually there. These hallucinations are real, intense and frequently frightening. Hallucinations are reported to have several recurrent themes in users including insects, cigarettes, people or objects appearing and disappearing, demons and monsters. Smoking a phantom cigarette is one of the most common hallucinations, even if the individual has never smoked before. Talking to inanimate objects, animals and friends who are not present is also frequently reported. Individuals lose their ability to identify their friends, and may not even recognize their reflection in a mirror. The individual may also try to interact with the hallucinations. Most users didn't realize that they were hallucinating until the drug wore off. Users feel completely disconnected with their environment, reporting feelings of sleepwalking or being in a trance. Feelings of free-falling or flying are often reported. Individuals go on desperate searches for items they feel compelled to find, they become lost, confused, disoriented, and dehydrated. Amnesia is frequently reported, users have no memory of what they were doing for several hours, or they may unconsciously replace fact with fantasy in their memory. They can fall in and out of consciousness. They can slip into delirium.
Jimson weed's most dangerous effect is on behavior. In fact, most Jimson weed related deaths are a result of impaired judgment that leads to risk taking activities. They can believe they can fly and jump off a cliff; believe they are chasing a mermaid in a lake but they cannot swim. They can also become violent in reaction to terrifying hallucinations and hurt themselves or others.
The onset of symptoms can hit in a half hour if the leaves of the Jimson weed are ingested or smoked and in 1-4 hours after ingestion of the seeds. The symptoms from a moderate dose of jimson weed usually lasts for 8-12 hours; stronger doses can last for several days. Early physical symptoms associated with Jimson weed usage include flushing, warm/dry red skin, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, blurred vision, dilation of the pupils, headache, dry mouth, extreme thirst, restlessness, nervousness, muscular twitching, thirst, sensitivity to light, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.
All parts of the Datura stramonium plant are toxic (seeds, leaves, roots, and flowers). The potential for accidental poisoning by Jimson weed increases with higher doses. High levels of Jimson weed ingestion may produce serious, even fatal, medical conditions including cardiac arrhythmia or arrest, elevated blood pressure, fever (up to 110 °F), an inability to urinate or sweat, severe dehydration, constipation, seizures, coma, delirium and respiratory arrest. Speech is often incoherent, and coordination can be grossly impaired.
The diagnosis of Jimson weed poisoning is not always obvious. Drug toxicology screens usually do not detect pure anticholinergic poisons. The symptoms can mimic overdoses of other medications (antihistamines, sleep aids, cold medicines, antipsychotics, muscle relaxants, or psilocybin mushrooms). The symptoms are also very similar to meningitis and rabies. If seeds or other evidence of Jimson weed poisoning are discovered responders should bring them to the hospital to help with identification of the Datura stramonium plant. "Red as a beet, dry as a bone, blind as a bat, mad as a hatter" is a frequently used mnemonic by medical professionals to describe Jimson's effects.
A Jimson weed overdose should be considered serious and medical treatment is indicated. There is no home treatment; hospitalization is usually required. The airway, breathing and circulation (ABCs) are assessed and maintained. Intubation and ventilation may be indicated. The individual will be given activated charcoal to stop any undigested seeds from being absorbed by the body. IV hydration will be started. Cardiac monitoring is essential. The individual may need catheterization for urinary retention. Cooling blankets and sponge baths are used to bring down the fever. For life-threatening cases of Jimson weed poisoning physostigmine salicylate (Antilirium) injections are given, which counteract the anticholinergic effects of the Datura stramonium plant. Benzodiazepines (such as Ativan) are given for acute agitation. Individuals can be hyperactive and combative necessitating the use of restraints to prevent injury to the individual or hospital staff. Beta-blockers may be given to lower the heart rate and blood pressure. Reactions vary, but depression following Jimson weed ingestion has been reported to last up to a year, blurry vision may persist for months, and short term memory loss may last for several weeks.
There are only two ways to prevent Jimson weed poisoning: defoliation and education. The plant is not a controlled substance under federal law. It is legal to cultivate, buy, possess, or distribute any parts of the plant throughout the United States. Several states have laws regulating the human consumption of Jimson weed. New Jersey has a public health law stating that upon notification of the existence of wild or cultivated Datura stramonium plants the health department will dispatch an officer to destroy them.
Both of my sons have graduated from Carlsbad High School, my oldest son knew both Eric Sears and Ben Fogelstrom. Eric was a popular, friendly guy who was on the cross country team. He had been accepted into the engineering program of San Diego State University, and was to begin classes that fall. His death affected the whole community. I dare say my children will never experiment with Jimson weed. If you have the chance, educate as many teens as you can about the risks of using this plant for recreational purposes; it is a great way to protect and serve.
