Dude, pass the nutmeg.
You might not imagine that line coming from a teenager, yet the spice normally used in Christmas concoctions is getting a boost on the Internet as a cheap alternative to illicit drugs.
Youtube is awash with videos of youths smoking, snorting and swallowing the spice, which is traditionally used to enhance the flavor of Yuletide cookies, pies and eggnog.
The Florida Poison Information Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital has recently seen a small spike in phone calls reporting people who snorted, smoked or ate the spice, says a report this week from the website of the TV news station WPLG in Miami.
"It's the flavor of the month," Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, medical director at the center, told the station. "But most people only try it once because they have such nasty side effects. The rewards are not worth the risks."
Gaylord Lopez, director of the Georgia Poison Center in Atlanta, told abcnews.go that ingesting unusual quantities of nutmeg can be dangerous, especially for those with heart problems.
"A person who has an unrecognized heart ailment could have problems that could lead to irregular rhythms," he said.
Nutmeg contains myristicin, a natural compound that has mind-altering effects if ingested in large doses, abcnews.go reported. The news outlet says the buzz can last one to two days and can be hallucinogenic, much like LSD. It also said the side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
