Poison Psychedelic: Beware the Giant Toad
Tara A. Spears
‘Pick your poison’ has a whole other meaning when it refers to smoking the Sonora toad toxin. With the return of the rainy season comes a potentially deadly danger for dogs and cats. The giant Bufo toad hibernates beneath the soil for most of the year but they are now emerging from the ground — along with their toxic self-defense mechanism. In spite of the toad’s ability to kill a dog within 15 minutes of contact, some people seek out the hallucinogenic effects of these same Mexican poisonous toads.
Jaltemba Bay area is home to neo-tropical members of the Bufonidae family, including the Giant Cane toad (Rhinella marina ), and Sonoran desert toad (Incilius alvarius ). According to Naturalista.mx, cane toad is included in the International Union’s list of 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world- yet people will lick the toad in pursuit of a mind altering trip.
Since the beginning of human existence, people around the world have altered their minds with countless plant-based substances so it isn’t a big leap to trying toad toxin. Those that use toad ‘medicine’ have done so for many reasons, ranging from pleasure to health to ceremony.
There is an important reason to dry and smoke toad secretions (rather than licking a toad). The skin secretions of Bufo alvarius are fatal when taken orally and can only be safely consumed when smoked. The identified chemicals in the B. alvarius toad is said to be the most potent hallucinogenic in the world. Several of these toad compounds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. Despite the dangers, Sonoran Desert toad venom is becoming increasingly en vogue among young North Americans, who score the rare resin by hiring shamans who illegally collect toads for their use in the drug ceremony.
Up until recently, hallucinogenic toad venom was associated with underground thrill seekers. But in the last five years, smoking toad toxins are advertised to basically reset the brain and kick out years of anxiety or to help eliminate addictions. One user said, “It helped me feel calm without needing to smoke so I could quit for good.” He reported minor negative effects that went away in a couple of hours. Other users said,” It was immediately terrible- it was like I was on a rollercoaster and my head was in a vice and I couldn’t move.” “If people get dosed too high, they can ‘white out’ and disassociate from their mind and body,” he added. Others can experience vomiting and anxiety for days afterward, while some end up in the emergency room.
According to those that have a positive toad smoking experience, “In this mystical ritual, after smoking this substance you go through a trance for a few minutes. However, the feeling seems to last for hours, during which time the colors are perceived much stronger and more vibrant.” Some famous users indicate that after living the ritual it feels like a “clean slate”, as if life began again. After the trance the user thought “everything looks different, as if it were the first time they opened their eyes.” It seems to support the adage, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’
If you’re interested, you can still catch this advertised ceremony later this month.
Regardless of your view on recreational toad, it is important to protect your fur babies from ingesting the toad toxins. A white secretion that seeps from pores along the toad’s head and legs contains a powerful neurotoxin that can cause a dog to foam at the mouth, suffer seizures, high fever, dilated pupils and a rapid heartbeat. To increase a poisoned dog’s chance of survival, veterinarians advise using a garden hose to flush the animal’s mouth before taking it to the vet.
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