The "Devil's Breath" is a nickname for Scopolamine, a powerful psychoactive substance derived from certain plants native to South America. It has been used by Colombian criminals to rob and manipulate victims, who become highly suggestible and compliant after inhaling the powder. The effects of Scopolamine are an order of magnitude more potent than cocaine and can lead to hallucinations, severe drowsiness, dry mouth, cardiac arrhythmia, and amnesia. Despite its notorious reputation, Scopolamine has also been used for medicinal purposes, including as an anesthetic, antidote to gastrointestinal spasms, and treatment for post-operative nausea and vomiting. Additionally, it has been used by governments, including the Czech Secret Police, as a form of interrogation or "truth serum." While some of the stories surrounding Scopolamine may be exaggerated, the substance is undoubtedly powerful and potentially deadly.
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1. Dementia Black is the street name of a Colombian drug dealer interviewed by Vice in 2012.
2. Dementia Black uses a chemical compound called Devil's Breath, also known as scopolamine, to rob people.
3. Scopolamine is a fine white powder similar to cocaine in appearance.
4. Scopolamine is synthesized from a number of plants, including a type of nightshade common in the upper region of South America.
5. Scopolamine has been used by various cultures for thousands of years, including the Aboriginal people of Australia.
6. In the late 1800s, scopolamine entered popular Western medical use, pioneered by German scientist Albert Ladenberg.
7. Scopolamine was used as an anesthetic for childbirth, an antidote to gastrointestinal spasms, and an effective treatment for post-operative nausea and vomiting.
8. Scopolamine is still used today to prevent motion sickness, and wearing a small prescription scopolamine patch can make travel smoother.
9. Scopolamine can have toxic effects on the body in high enough doses, leading to side effects such as hallucinations, severe drowsiness, dry mouth, cardiac arrhythmia, and amnesia.
10. If a person overdoses on scopolamine and can't find treatment in time, it's extremely likely they won't live to see tomorrow.
11. The elderly are at increased risk of dementia when given scopolamine.
12. Scopolamine was used by the Czech secret police in the mid to late 20th century to extract confessions from political prisoners.
13. Scopolamine was often used as a truth serum, but it was discontinued due to its unpleasant side effects.
14. The Czech secret police used scopolamine to make prisoners more open to suggestion, despite the unreliable and incoherent answers produced by this method.
15. The US's Overseas Security Advisory Council estimated that there are 50,000 scopolamine-related incidents in South America every year.
16. Scopolamine has been used for spiritual purposes across the globe for thousands of years, including states of ritualistic religious hallucination.
17. Scopolamine can lead to a state of suggestibility, making people more willing to follow instructions without question.