Over the past several years, clusters of jimson weed (Datura stramonium) poisonings have occurred among adolescents who are unaware of its potential toxicity. These poisonings occur in multiples because the teenagers experiment together or are exposed to the plant at "jimson weed parties." The most recent of these clusters was in New Jersey; others have been reported in Texas, New York, and California. These incidents often occur after an increased number of cases are broadcasted in the press, heightening interest in this weed.
Part of the belladonna alkaloid family, jimson weed grows throughout the United States. Ingestion of jimson weed, also known as Thorn apple, Angel's Trumpet, Moonflower, and Jamestown weed, can cause serious illness or even death. The plant contains several chemicals, including atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, which affect the central nervous system. All parts of the plant contain these toxic chemicals, however, the highest concentrations are found in the seeds. The toxicity of jimson weed varies significantly from year to year, from plant to plant, and even among different leaves of the same plant.
Jimson weed is considered to be an hallucinogen; it has the ability to change a person's mental state by distorting their perception of reality to the point where hallucinations occur. Jimson weed can be infused into a tea, ground into a paste and rubbed topically on the skin, smoked, or eaten. Symptoms of jimson weed ingestion include:
- Dry mouth
- Dilation of the pupils
- Reddening of the face and neck
- Elevated blood pressure and body temperature
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fever
- Constipation
- Urinary retention
These symptoms may be followed by extreme hallucinations, agitation, combative behavior, confusion, seizures, coma, and death. It is said that people who show up in emergency rooms because of jimson weed poisoning appear "red as a beet, dry as a bone, blind as a bat, and mad as a hatter." Jimson weed is so dangerous because not only is it extremely toxic, the "dose" a person receives when ingesting jimson weed cannot be controlled due to the variability of toxic chemicals within the different parts of the plants.
Most symptoms occur within 30 minutes to 6 hours of ingestion, and last 24 to 48 hours. However, dilated pupils can last for up to one week. Because ingestion of jimson weed slows the gastrointestinal tract, the seeds can sometimes be found in the stomach 16 to 36 hours after ingestion.
