Editing Scopolamine (section)

===Recreational and religious use===
While it has been occasionally used recreationally for its hallucinogenic properties, the experiences are often unpleasant, mentally and physically. It is also physically dangerous and officially classified as a [[deliriant]] drug, so repeated recreational use is rare.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Freye E |title = Pharmacology and Abuse of Cocaine, Amphetamines, Ecstasy and Related Designer Drugs |chapter = Toxicity of Datura Stramonium |publisher = Springer |year = 2010 |location = Netherlands |pages = 217–218 |isbn = 978-90-481-2447-3 |doi = 10.1007/978-90-481-2448-0_34}}</ref> In June 2008, more than 20 people were hospitalized with [[psychosis]] in Norway after ingesting counterfeit [[rohypnol]] tablets containing scopolamine.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2507100.ece |title=Bilsykemedisin i falske rohypnol-tabletter |website=Aftenposten.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627021428/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2507100.ece |archive-date=27 June 2008 }}</ref> In January 2018, 9 individuals were hospitalized in Perth, Western Australia, after reportedly ingesting scopolamine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-04/toxicology-results-from-perth-mass-overdose-expected-today/9303330|title=Perth backpacker overdose linked to common anti-nausea drug|date=4 January 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233116/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-04/toxicology-results-from-perth-mass-overdose-expected-today/9303330|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The alkaloid scopolamine, when taken recreationally for its psychoactive effect, is usually taken in the form of preparations from plants of the genera ''[[Datura]]'' or ''[[Brugmansia]]'', often by [[adolescents]] or [[young adults]] in order to achieve hallucinations and an [[altered state of consciousness]] induced by [[Muscarinic antagonist|muscarinic antagonism]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fatur K, Kreft S | title = Common anticholinergic solanaceaous plants of temperate Europe - A review of intoxications from the literature (1966-2018) | journal = Toxicon | volume = 177 | pages = 52–88 | date = April 2020 | pmid = 32217234 | doi = 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005 | bibcode = 2020Txcn..177...52F | s2cid = 213559151 }}</ref><ref name='Preissel'>{{cite book | vauthors = Preissel U, Preissel HG | title = ''Brugmansia'' and ''Datura'': Angel's Trumpets and Thorn Apples | publisher = Firefly Books | year = 2002 | location = Buffalo, NY | pages = 106–129 | isbn = 1-55209-598-3 }}</ref> In circumstances such as these, the [[Substance intoxication|intoxication]] is usually built on a [[Drug synergy|synergistic]], but even more toxic mixture of the additional alkaloids in the plants which includes [[atropine]] and [[hyoscyamine]].

Historically, the various plants that produce scopolamine have been used psychoactively for [[Spirituality|spiritual]] and [[magic (supernatural)|magical]] purposes, particularly by witches in western culture and [[indigenous people|indigenous]] groups throughout the [[Americas]], such as [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes like the [[Chumash people|Chumash]].<ref name="Raetsch"/><ref name="The Way of the Shaman">{{cite book | vauthors = Harner M |year=1980| title=The Way of the Shaman|url=https://archive.org/details/wayofshamanguide00harn|url-access=registration| location=New York |publisher=Harper & Row |isbn=978-0-06-250373-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Kuklin A | title = How Do Witches Fly?| publisher = DNA Press |date=February 1999 | isbn = 0-9664027-0-7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Applegate RB |title=The Datura Cult Among the Chumash |journal=The Journal of California Anthropology |date=1975 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=7–17 |jstor=27824805 }}</ref> When [[entheogenic]] preparations of these plants were used, scopolamine was considered to be the main psychoactive compound and was largely responsible for the hallucinogenic effects, particularly when the preparation was made into a topical ointment, most notably [[flying ointment]].<ref name="Hansen">Hansen, Harold A. The Witch's Garden pub. Unity Press 1978 {{ISBN|978-0913300473}}</ref> 

Scopolamine is reported to be the only active alkaloid within these plants that can effectively be absorbed through the skin to cause effects.<ref name="W.B. Saunders"/> Different recipes for these ointments were explored in [[European witchcraft]] at least as far back as the [[early modern period]] and included multiple ingredients to help with the transdermal absorption of scopolamine, such as animal fat, as well as other possible ingredients to counteract its noxious and dysphoric effects.<ref name="Hansen"/>

In the [[Bible]], there are multiple mentions of [[Mandrake]], a psychoactive and hallucinogenic plant root that contains scopolamine. It was associated with fertility and (sexual) desire for which it was yearned by [[Rachel]], who was "barren" (infertile) but trying to conceive.<ref>{{cite web|title=Genesis 30:14–16 (King James Version)|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2030:14-16&version=KJV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=6 January 2014|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107035307/http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2030:14-16&version=KJV|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Song of Songs 7:12–13 (King James Version)|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Songs%207:12-13&version=KJV|publisher=Bible Gateway|access-date=6 January 2014|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107034445/http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Songs%207:12-13&version=KJV|url-status=live}}</ref>