A TikToker Smelled This Flower and Accidentally Drugged Herself (2023)

A TikToker Smelled This Flower and Accidentally Drugged Herself (1)

Yellow Angel Trumpets Flowers (thousandlies/iStock/GettyImagesPlus)

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When singer-songwriter Raffaela Weyman found a large, yellow flower as she and her best friend walked to another friend’s house, the two couldn’t help but stop and smell it—repeatedly.

(Video) Woman Accidentally Drugged Herself By Sniffing A Flower !

But Weyman, who lives in Toronto, later found out they’d inhaled what’s widely considered to be one of the world’s scariest drugs.

“When we arrived at our friend’s birthday, we both suddenly felt so f*cked up and had to leave,” reads Weyman’s TikTok, which has received more than 24,000 likes and almost 500 shares as of Tuesday afternoon.

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The next day, Weyman and her friend learned that the flower, known as an Angel’s Trumpet, is a source of scopolamine, a hallucinogen and potentially deadly narcotic, better known as burundanga or its street name “Devil’s Breath.”

(Video) Woman Accidentally Drugs Herself After Smelling Flower

“Turns out the flower is super poisonous and we accidentally drugged ourselves like idiots,” her TikTok reads.

Devil’s Breath is typically extracted from the bell-shaped, bright-colored flower as a powder or liquid and can be either added to drinks or inhaled. In 2012, VICE News compared the drug to “the worst roofie you could ever imagine, times a million."

Angel’s Trumpet isn’t all bad, however. Some of the plant’s extracts can be used to make treatments for asthma and motion sickness, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“The deal with burundanga is that it pretty much eliminates your free will so you’re awake and you’re articulate,” VICE News reported at the time. “To anyone else watching you, it seems like you’re perfectly fine, but you’ve completely lost control of your own actions, so you’re at the whim of suggestions, and that’s how people take advantage of you.”

(Video) Woman accidentally drugs herself by sniffing a flower


During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union allegedly used the Devil’s Breath for its hypnotic properties as a form of truth serum, according to the Telegraph. Now, the drug is commonly used to commit crimes like robbery and sexual assault—especially in South American countries like Ecuador and Colombia, according to the Guardian— as it makes its users more cooperative and easy to manipulate.

In 2015, three members of an international Triad-style criminal organization were arrested in Paris for using the drug to steal millions of euros from unsuspecting, mostly elderly people, according to the Telegraph.

In 2020, a Lyft driver in Atlanta told NBC affiliate 11 Alive that two men tried to abduct her using the drug. She was able to escape using her car’s emergency button which alerts her Lyft dispatcher and local authorities.

Inhaling Devil’s Breath in larger doses can be dangerous and hospitalizes as many as 50,000 people a year in the drug’s native country of Colombia, according to the U.S. Department of State.

“Scopolamine can render a victim unconscious for 24 hours or more. In large doses, it can cause respiratory failure and death,” the State Department’s report says.

(Video) Don't smell 'delicious' flowers, you maybe drugged by it

Luckily for Weyman, her unknowing consumption of the drug only left her feeling unwell.

“When I got home and fell asleep, I had the craziest dreams and experienced sleep paralysis for the first time in my life,” she said on TikTok.

“It’s highly poisonous and causes hallucinations and zombie-like trances SOOOO stick to inhaling my music, not a random flower you find on the street,” she told her followers on Instagram Sunday.

Devil’s Breath can be grown in frost-free, typically coastal climates. And although the flower is highly poisonous, it’s still legal to grow in most U.S. states.

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FAQs

What happens if you smell an angel's trumpet? ›

According to The Spruce, which notes that “every part of the plant is poisonous,” exposure to the Angel's Trumpet can lead to hallucinations, muscle weakness, convulsions, paralysis, memory loss and death.

What is Devil's Breath plant? ›

Devil's Breath is derived from the flower of the “borrachero” shrub, common in the South American country of Colombia. The seeds, when powdered and extracted via a chemical process, contain a chemical similar to scopolamine called “burandanga”.

Is scopolamine legal in the US? ›

The name "scopolamine" is derived from one type of nightshade known as Scopolia, while the name "hyoscine" is derived from another type known as Hyoscyamus niger.
...
Scopolamine.
Clinical data
Legal statusAU : S4 (Prescription only) / S2 UK : POM (Prescription only) / P US : ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismLiver
34 more rows

What drug is in angels trumpet? ›

Angel's trumpet contains a large amount of belladonna alkaloids, also known as parasympatholytics. The belladonna alkaloids include atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. Scopolamine is specifically nicknamed “Devil's Breath” due to its use by robbers in Columbia to incapacitate their victims (9).

What happens if you touch Devil's trumpet? ›

Devil's trumpet (Datura metel) is a highly toxic annual species. Devil's trumpet ingestion can cause headaches, hallucinations, coma, and death. In spite of its toxicity, it is sometimes grown as an ornamental flower.

What drug is most commonly used to incapacitate? ›

Perpetrators use a variety of substances to incapacitate a victim. Commonly used substances: Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in drug-facilitated sexual assault. Prescription drugs like sleep aids, anxiety medication, muscle relaxers, and tranquilizers may also be used by perpetrators.

What does scopolamine do to the brain? ›

Scopolamine prevents communication between the nerves of the vestibule and the vomiting center in the brain by blocking the action of acetylcholine. Scopolamine also may work directly on the vomiting center. Scopolamine must be taken before the onset of motion sickness to be effective.

What flower makes you hallucinate? ›

Overview. Angel's trumpet is a plant. The leaves and flowers are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people use angel's trumpet as a recreational drug to induce hallucinations and euphoria.

Can scopolamine make you feel high? ›

Scopolamine is a medication that's used to treat motion sickness and nausea. It's also known as “the Devil's Breath” because it can cause people to become confused, agitated, and even psychotic. People who abuse Scopolamine may do so for its hallucinogenic effects.

Can scopolamine be fatal? ›

According to some reports, a dose of 50 mg Scopolamine is lethal if administered through the oral route. Overdose of Scopolamine may cause loss of consciousness, severe drowsiness, or seizures. You should immediately report to a physician if these symptoms are present.

Does scopolamine cause brain damage? ›

Regarding to the use of scopolamine, previous studies have reported the association of systemic administration of scopolamine with increased oxidative stress in the brain, especially the areas associated with memory and learning, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex16,38.

Is angel trumpet illegal? ›

Angel's trumpet plants are not illegal, and most gardeners can safely grow these plants without ever risking accidental poisoning.

How poisonous is Angels trumpet? ›

Toxicity and uses

All parts of angel's trumpets are considered poisonous and contain the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Ingestion of the plants can cause disturbing hallucinations, paralysis, tachycardia, and memory loss and can be fatal.

Is trumpet vine poisonous to humans? ›

According to Dr. Villano, all parts of the angel's trumpet — including the flower, leaves, seeds and stem — contain a toxin called scopolamine that can cause serious poisoning to humans and pets.

What happens when the 4th trumpet blows? ›

Following the sounding of the fourth trumpet, a third of the light that shines from the Sun, moon, and stars becomes dark from the celestial bodies being "struck." This catastrophe causes complete darkness for a third of the day, even through night hours.

Where is Angel trumpet found? ›

Brugmansia is native to South America, particularly the Andes, where they grow on sloping terrain with warm, humid days and cool nights. It is a long-lived perennial in zone 9 and warmer.

What do angel trumpets smell like? ›

"Everything that's bat-pollinated has a sickeningly cloying smell," she said. "It's supposed to be rotten fruit, which is what bats seem to go for." The guests are going to love this. The plant is also deadly poisonous, by the way, so don't throw any of the leaves or flowers in your salad.

How do you feel after being spiked? ›

Common symptoms include:
  • Dizziness.
  • Difficulty in walking.
  • Confusion, especially the next day or after waking up.
  • Nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)
  • Hallucinations (seeing things which are not there)
  • Tiredness.
  • Visual problems, for example, blurred vision.
  • Paranoia (a feeling of fear or distrust of others)

What drug is used to spike drinks? ›

Recreational drugs like Ecstasy, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Ketamine and other 'party-drugs' are sometimes used to spike alcoholic drinks. Mixing alcohol and stimulants can be very dangerous and can cause serious medical problems, ranging from nausea to coma.

What drug do doctors give you to knock you out? ›

Midazolam injection is used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and relieve anxiety before surgery or certain procedures. When midazolam is used before surgery, the patient will not remember some of the details about the procedure.

Is scopolamine a truth drug? ›

But the first drug ever approved as a truth inducing drug was scopolamine. This drug was first “discovered” by Dr. Robert House, an obstetrician.

Is scopolamine Devil's Breath? ›

Devil's Breath, also known as scopolamine or hyoscine, is a tropane alkaloid that's used to treat various medical issues like nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, and even muscle spasms.

Does scopolamine make you forget? ›

Scopolamine causes short-term and long-term memory loss by blocking the muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the brain and interfering with learning and memory.

What is the death flower? ›

Amorphophallus titanum is often called corpse flower because when it blooms, it emits a powerful stench similar to that of rotting meat. This scent, along with the deep-red, meaty color of the open spathe, attracts insect pollinators that feed on dead animals.

Is the death flower real? ›

The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, boasts a powerful stink, and blooms for just 2-3 days once every year or two. The bloom can grow up to 8 feet tall! This plant fascinates visitors of all ages.

What is a voodoo flower? ›

Voodoo lily is a perennial generally grown as a curiosity for its interesting foliage. Native to warm subtropical to tropical areas of eastern Asia, including Vietnam, Japan and China south to Indonesia, Amorphophallus konjac has been known by several other scientific names including A. rivieri, A.

Can I buy scopolamine over the counter? ›

Scopolamine belongs to the group of medicines called anticholinergics. It works on the central nervous system (CNS) to create a calming effect on the muscles in the stomach and bowels (gut). This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

How long does a scopolamine trip last? ›

The pharmacological half-life of scopolamine in the body is about 9 hours, but the sensitized effects in the vestibular nuclei center can last for days to weeks.

Can you buy scopolamine pills? ›

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) isn't available OTC. It requires a prescription from your provider, because it can cause very serious side effects if you have certain medical conditions or take certain other medications.

How does scopolamine make you feel? ›

This medicine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, or trouble seeing clearly. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. If you plan to participate in underwater sports, you may feel lost or confused (disoriented).

Is scopolamine an abused drug? ›

Scopolamine and other plant derivatives are potential drugs of abuse for both recreational and criminal purposes.

How much is scopolamine worth? ›

The cost for scopolamine transdermal film, extended release (1 mg/72 hr) is around $31 for a supply of 4 films, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Quoted prices are for cash-paying customers and are not valid with insurance plans.

What happens if you overdose on scopolamine? ›

What happens if I overdose on Scopolamine Transdermal (Transderm-Scop)? Overdose can cause vision problems, severe drowsiness, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, painful or difficult urination, hot or dry skin, fast heartbeats, seizure, or loss of consciousness.

Can scopolamine cause altered mental status? ›

Mental confusion or delirium can occur after application of scopolamine patch. However, predisposing factors for scopolamine-induced delirium are not known. It is expected that undetected incipient dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be prone to develop mental confusion after applying the scopolamine patch.

Is scopolamine a psychedelic? ›

Atropine and scopolamine are classical muscarinic cholinergic antagonists that exert multiple CNS effects. Belonging to a group of deliriant hallucinogens, these drugs induce delirium-like hallucinations, hyperactivity, altered affective states and amnesia.

Can angel trumpets make you hallucinate? ›

Ingestion of Angel's Trumpet flowers or a tea brewed from them results in an alkaloid-induced central nervous system anticholinergic syndrome characterized by symptoms such as fever, delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and persistent memory disturbances.

Is Angel's trumpet toxic? ›

Symptoms: All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms may include intense thirst, difficulty with speech and swallowing, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, dilated pupils, seizures and coma.

What does angel's trumpet smell like? ›

A pink-flowered Brugmansia growing in New Orleans. Fragrance varies considerably, too, with intensity ranging from none (B. sanguinea) to overpowering. The intoxicating scents are variously described as musk, lemon, mint, lily, hyacinth, citrus, jasmine, gardenia, and more.

Are angel trumpets poisonous to people? ›

Villano, all parts of the angel's trumpet — including the flower, leaves, seeds and stem — contain a toxin called scopolamine that can cause serious poisoning to humans and pets.

Is Angel trumpet illegal? ›

Angel's trumpet plants are not illegal, and most gardeners can safely grow these plants without ever risking accidental poisoning.

What is the difference between Angels trumpet and devil's trumpet? ›

The plant, which is commonly called a devil's trumpet, resembles a brugmansia plant (angel's trumpet). The major difference in the two plants is that the datura (devil's trumpet) has large trumpet shaped blossoms that stand up straight, instead of pointing downward in the manner of an angel's trumpet.

What is Devil's trumpet used for? ›

In South America, it's used for the deterrence of insects as an edge planting in gardens. The plant is very poisonous and should not be planted into gardens where toddlers play! Datura Metel is a large, under tropical conditions perennial, thorn apple.

What happens if you touch a Datura plant? ›

Datura plants are safe to handle, and some species are even grown as ornamentals. They are dangerous to those who choose to ingest parts of them, such as might happen to those hoping for a hallucinogenic experience, or perhaps ingested some by accident.

Can Brugmansia get you high? ›

There have been reported cases of intentional ingestion of Brugmansia species by adolescents for recreational purposes due to its hallucinogenic and euphoric effect.

How do you get rid of an angel trumpet? ›

On the organic side, you can use boiling water as an herbicide to kill trumpet vines. Again, cut the vine at the ground and treat the ground 3 feet (1 m.) around the base with boiling water. Boiling water is effective, but some roots will escape and shoots will regrow.

What does Devil's trumpet smell like? ›

All parts of the plant emit a foul odor similar to rancid peanut butter when crushed or bruised, although most people find the fragrance of the flowers to be quite pleasant when they bloom at night. The flowers are white, trumpet-shaped, 12–19 cm (4.5–7.5 in) long.

What Datura smells like? ›

The flowers exude a pleasant honeysuckle-like scent, especially at night, which attracts night-flying sphinx moths which are their primary pollinators.

Does Datura have a smell? ›

Some Datura plants produce addictive narcotic nectar to entice hawk moths to their flowers. Browsing animals usually avoid eating the plants due to its foul odor and taste.

Why is it called angel's trumpet? ›

The name "angel's trumpet" refers to the large, pendulous, trumpet-shaped flowers, 14–50 cm (6–20 in) long and 10–35 cm (4–14 in) across at the opening.

Where do angel trumpets grow? ›

Angel's trumpet hails from South America, where it typically grows on the slopes of the Andes Mountains. That mountain climate delivers warm, humid days and cool nights — the ideal combination for this plant to thrive. Angel's trumpet is winter hardy in Zones 8 and warmer.

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