Scopolamine/Burundanga
Scopolamine (Burundanga) is one of the most dangerous drug in the world. Scopolamine is a kind of powder that is obtained from a tree called El Borrachero which translates as the drunken binge. On this tree grows beautiful flowers in which owes its English name as “Angel’s Trumpet”. This plant grows in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela but it is only used by the criminal element in Colombia. Scopolamine produces psychoactive effects in humans.
Steve Beyer’s blog “Singing to the Plants”. He states “under the influence you remain lucid and articulate yet absolutely compliant to any suggestion. When you are awaken you have no recollection of what has happened.” This basically means that people who are under the influence are generally “Human Puppets”. This drug is considered a “date-rape drug” as criminals are the ones to use this drug against their victims so that they can manipulate them into doing whatever it is that they want. The person who is under the influence have a lot of side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, disorientation, memory disturbance, hallucinations, paranoia, confusion, dry mouth, restlessness, blurred vision, dilated pupils, dry or itchy eyes, flushing, fast heartbeats and the eager to help out the criminal.
Scopolamine affects the memory and makes people more passive. Scopolamine competes with our acetylcholine which is a brain chemical. Memories work through this chemical. Acetylcholine is a compound that occurs throughout the nervous system, in which it functions as a neurotransmitter. When scopolamine competes with acetylcholine, scopolamine wins the battle and blocks the acetylcholine receptor in the brain. Therefore, making memories is impossible when consuming this drug. Also, scopolamine influences the amygdala which leads to the loss of free will. The amygdala shuts down the thinking process of our brain so we can take immediate action in an emergency. It is scary to think how quickly this drug can impact our brain and the damage it can do to us. This drug can be ingested, in haled or imbibed. As this drug is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, it is most likely that the drug is slipped into drinks or sprinkled onto food. This is why it is very easy for someone to become a victim of this scary substance.
This drug is legal but it needs to be prescribed by a physician. Scopolamine has alkaloid ingredients which have become widely used in medicine as sedatives and amnesiacs. This drug can help with nausea, depression, dizziness and recovery after a surgery. This is also an anticholinergic medicine. Large doses can give you temporary amnesia, delirium and loss of inhibition. When taking scopolamine as a medicine, it can have many effects in the body including decreasing the secretion of fluids, and dilation of the pupils.
During the twentieth century, this drug was used by the physicians along with chloroform and morphine to help with the pain of childbirth. Women suffered less labor pains. However, they experienced hallucinations, amnesia, disorientation and drowsiness. After the women has awaken from giving birth, they had no memory of what occurred. In my opinion, I cannot imagine not remembering such a special moment in my life. I would enjoy remembering giving birth to my child as that is a blessing. However, this was not the only issue when mother’s consumed the drug. New moms were not able to answer questions accurately when asked questions regarding the present state of mind. Although, when new moms were asked questions regarding the past they were answering with the truth. This technique was later abandon in the 1960’s as the residual effects on new mothers and newborns.
This drug can be misused to rob, to rape and to kill victims. This drug is not used for recreational activities. Criminals are the ones who profit from scopolamine. Criminals utilize scopolamine to perpetrate crimes in Colombia. Criminals use scopolamine against innocent people to make withdrawals from their bank, handling over car keys, emptying furniture from their homes, and also for rapping their victims. Criminals have started using scopolamine against prominent politicians, lawyers and doctors.
CIA used to profit from scopolamine. In the early 1920’s they did couple of studies on prisoners and suspects of crimes. The suspects who first denied their crime, later under the drug admitted their wrong doings. They admitted that under the influence they had a desire to answer any question that they could hear and answer it with true facts. After the CIA saw the success of this drug, they concluded that a patient under the influence of scopolamine cannot create a lie. This is where the term “truth serum” made its appearance. The CIA were using this drug to do interrogations but because of a number of side effect, scopolamine was shortly disqualified as a “truth” drug.
Victims are the ones who suffer from this drug. Victims do not have any memory and therefore they are unable to identify their aggressors. As they cannot identify the criminals, cops are unable to do justice. If cops cannot find the criminals, the criminals will continue to look for more victims to take advantage of. An online source from Digital Journal “Is scopolamine the world’s scariest drug?” a women called Mel explains the experience her aunt had. "This happened to my great aunt, a woman in her late 60's in Medellin. Someone drugged her by blowing [the powder] in her face and took her to the bank where she emptied her bank account willingly for her assailant. When she came out it she couldn't remember who the person was." Mel explained. For this reason, in the recent years the U.S State Department made sure to put out a warning telling travelers to be aware of “criminals in Colombia using disabling drugs to temporarily incapacitate tourist and others.” Travelers should always be aware that this drug exist as they can easily become a victim in Colombia.
In conclusion, the “devil’s breath” is a drug that should be taken seriously. This drug can cause prolonged unconsciousness and serious medical problem.