DDR
Presentation
Frog Licking
Getting high on nature is taking on a
whole new meaning.
BEWARE!
USA TODAY
August 10, 1989
NATIONLINE
TOAD LICKERS BEWARE: The latest way to get high is toad licking. A popular lick
victim: the Colorado River Toad. When agitated, it secretes a hallucinogenic chemical
through its skin. But the party practice could be fatal - some toads emit a cardiac toxin.
``If you pick the wrong toad, you won't only get high, you'll get dead,'' warns
University of Michigan amphibian expert Carl Gans.
Bufotenine is considered a controlled, dangerous substance and is therefore illegal.
However, it is not against the law to own a toad.
Licking toads will not give you warts or produce a fairy prince, but it might get you
high.
HOW IT
STARTED
In recent years, toad licking has become popular in the Australian outback,
prompting Queensland's government to classify toad slime as an illegal substance
under its Drug Misuse Act.
"That's how this whole cycle started--a lack of dope in the Australian outback," said
Sager. "There, they are killing the toads, drying the skins and making tea. Yummy,
huh?
"This is what you call a desperation high. It's the sort of thing you do when you run
out of dope," he added. "It's bizarre behavior. Man has always found ways to get
(high), and he's found some weird ways to do it."
FROGS ARE POISONOUS
The bright coloration of the poison dart frog serves as a
warning to potential predators that it is one of the most
poisonous animals on earth. From tiny pores in its skin, the
frog secretes a defensive toxin that makes it unpalatable to
curious predators and which could easily kill if injected into
a human or other animal.
BEWARE!
Colorado River Toads secrete a very poisonous toxin that causes
powerful hallucinations when ingested and in large amounts may
even be able to kill a human. Curious dogs will often mouth the
toads and this can kill the dog if they are not treated immediately.
It isn't exactly an epidemic, but the Drug Enforcement Administration says toad
licking is the latest way to hallucinate.
THE HIGH
Coming on INSTANLY, you will feel a
buzzing head-rush and notice a
profound change in light and color
perceptions. Acute closed-eye visual
hallucinations are commonly reported.
Effects last for 5 to 15 minutes, falling
off rapidly. WARNING: Venom smokers
may experience.
Licking toads will not give you warts or produce a fairy prince,
but it might get you high.
SMOKING
FROGS
The toad's venom is concentrated on the surface of it's skin, and
that's why licking is dangerous. Smoking it is a different story,
however. The toxic ingredient in toad venom is called
bufotenine, which is burned off while smoking. After the toxic
stuff is gone, what's left is the hallucinogen 5-MeO-DMT. THIS is
what sends you to never-never land.
In order to get a smokeable sample, put the toad on a piece of
glass (a pyrex baking dish works well) and rub the parotid
glands behind it's eyes. This will irritate the toad, and it will
secrete a milky fluid. Once there is a goodly amount of it, let it
evaporate to a crystal and then scrape it with a razor blade and
place it in a glass pipe for smoking.
WARNING
Frog secretion induces powerful
hallucinations, dizziness and/or heart palpitations,
possible brain damage or even death.
Physical injury can result during the high.
QUESTIONS?