Devil’s Breath is the street name for the drug scopolamine. It is a substance that is surrounded in myth and urban legend, its name alone an indication of how scary the drug is considered to be.
It has gained a menacing reputation and is growing in notoriety, becoming more commonly used in criminal acts.
Despite the dangers of Devil’s Breath, many members of the general public are unaware of it. You should know what the scopolamine dangers are, how the drug works and what it actually is.
What Is Scopolamine (Devil’s Breath)?
Scopolamine is a drug derived from certain plants, including Brugmansia, Datura, and Jimsonweed. Sometimes it is synthesised in labs.
Historically, the plants that produce scopolamine have been used as a psychoactive drug in spiritual rituals amongst the native peoples of the Americas. The more modern medical usage has the drug being used to treat motion sickness, nausea and muscle spasms. In the UK, it is known as hyoscine hydrobromide and is used for these purposes.
Devil’s Breath is the powdered form of scopolamine. It has the name due to how it can put people in a zombie-like state, where people become highly suggestible, suffer from amnesia and experience hallucinations.
Scopolamine has earned its notoriety due to the drug’s use by criminals. Especially in Colombia, Devil’s Breath is used to incapacitate victims to rob them, coerce them into crime or sexually assault them.
How Scopolamine Affects the Body and Brain
Scopolamine is so dangerous due to the numerous effects it has on your body and brain.
Central Nervous System Impact
Scopolamine blocks acetylcholine receptors, preventing this neurotransmitter (which plays a crucial role in the functioning of the central and peripheral nervous systems) from functioning properly. This brings on several negative effects, such as suppressing memory formation, reducing motor control, and impacting decision-making.
Loss of Inhibition and Suggestibility
These are reports of users becoming highly compliant or easily influenced. This can particularly be dangerous in social or unsafe settings, as to bystanders it may look like nothing untoward is happening, as the victim is not struggling and cannot comprehend the trouble they are in.
Physical Side Effects
There are numerous physical effects such as rapid heart rate, dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness. In high doses, extreme sedation and agitation, which could lead to violent behaviour, are likely.
Psychological and Emotional Effects
Effects such as confusion, hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia are common. The drug can also induce mental health issues like anxiety. Especially if you have been unwittingly poisoned, the mental health scars of this assault could linger and cause severe psychological issues.
Dangers of Scopolamine Misuse
Scopolamine is not only a danger to people knowingly using it, but also to anyone who is exposed to it. The effects of it are not academic, and the drug carries very real dangers.
Scopolamine misuse can lead to:
- Increased risk of accidents and vulnerable situations due to disorientation
- High potential for coercion or exploitation
- Severe toxicity and emergency hospitalisation
Especially if attained illegally, there will be a variability in purity and dosage. This means you are putting yourself at risk even more, as you never know what you are putting into your body, and what the adverse effects can be.
Signs of Scopolamine Exposure or Overdose
Scopolamine is a dangerous drug, and overdoses can be lethal. Early intervention is paramount to a positive outcome, so you should be aware of the signs of scopolamine exposure.
Signs of someone being exposed to scopolamine or suffering an overdose include:
- Extreme confusion or inability to communicate clearly
- Inability to recognise surroundings or people
- Agitation or unusually slow responses
- Rapid heart rate and overheating
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
If you notice these symptoms in someone you know or yourself, then seek urgent medical help.
Scopolamine and Addiction Concerns
Drug addiction is not a straightforward concept. Whilst some addictions, such as to opioids and stimulants, can turn into a physical addiction, others are more complicated. Scopolamine addiction is not classically addictive in the way that opioids are, but the unpredictable effects of the drug can lead to repeated use.
The scopolamine drug effects that people seek, such as its hallucinogenic qualities, may appeal to those chasing dissociation and escape. Users may return to the drug time and time again to get that feeling of escape again and again, increasing the risk of developing a psychological addiction to scopolamine.
Because scopolamine is not a common drug to take recreationally, people are unaware of the potential outcomes. Dealing with unknown substances on all sides can lead to worse outcomes, as even professionals may not know how to approach treatment or what the long-term effects are.
Scopolamine Misuse Recovery Outcomes
Scopolamine is not a common or widely known drug. Substances such as these, which can be unregulated, pose dangers to society as a whole, as we are unsure of the effects of the drugs and how to combat abuse.
Especially for people in recovery or going into drug rehab, new or rare drugs complicate harm reduction and treatment planning, as they may bring up obstacles that caregivers and medical professionals are unsure how to overcome. There is not a lot of evidence, so clear and proven recovery pathways cannot be relied upon.
This is why drug education as part of community health is so important. If more people know the risks and are open about their struggles, stronger treatment will emerge.
What to Do if You or Someone You Know Has Taken Scopolamine
If you or someone you know has misused scopolamine, then that is a medical emergency. You should not wait out the situation but act quickly to ensure your own or someone else’s safety.
You should:
- Don’t leave them alone/be alone
- Call emergency services immediately
- Explain symptoms clearly to responders
- Do not make them vomit unless told to by a medical professional
- Seek medical care, even if the effects seem to fade
- Avoid trying to “sleep it off” without professional evaluation
Devil’s Breath is a drug that can have serious consequences or be used to aid a crime, so be aware of your surroundings and make sure the police are also involved if you or someone you know has been exposed without consent.
How Cassiobury Court Can Help
Cassiobury Court is a drug and rehab centre with over 30 years of experience in the industry. With our expertise, we can offer education and awareness support for rare substance misuse, so we can help you with your scopolamine issues.
Our treatment programme involves an assessment and personalised addiction treatment planning, providing you with a path through recovery that is right for you. As part of our treatment, we offer medically assisted detox and therapy for trauma, risky behaviour, and compulsive use.
Not limited to the person suffering from scopolamine misuse, we also provide UK-based, confidential support for individuals and families.
Cassiobury Court is built on a bedrock of compassion, so we are a great resource for safety, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.
Need Drug Misuse Support? Get In Touch Today
Scopolamine (Devil’s Breath) is unpredictable and hazardous, considered one of the most dangerous drugs in the world when used recreationally or misused. It is dangerous enough that even occasional use carries a serious risk.
Your main priority should be your safety. That’s why it is important to be aware of the effects of scopolamine, and you should seek out professional help if you are misusing the substance.
Cassiobury Court has an array of resources and support available to help you. Contact us now for a confidential chat with one of our team members.
