The substance has been blamed for thousands of crimes in South America. Now there are reports of the incapacitating drug being used in street robberies in Paris.
From use by Nazis to obstetricians, it certainly has a colourful history. O ne of the most enduring hoaxes you might hear in a backpacker hostel is that of the drug-soaked business card: someone hands you their card, and the drug is instantly absorbed by your skin. You fall into a zombie-like state, where you will do anything for your attacker, from empty out your bank account to pull a trigger on someone. The Daily Telegraph suggests that two women had encouraged their victims to breathe in the drug, then got the victims to take them home where they stole money and jewellery.
Dr Les King, chemist and former forensic scientist, agrees. There is no evidence it is being used in Europe, he says. It would be hard to get hold of. Certainly high doses would be completely incapacitating. But you would do after huge doses of alcohol, or lots of other drugs like Valium or other benzodiazepine drugs.
Mostly though, it is used at very low doses to treat motion sickness, usually though a transdermal patch. It is one of those drugs with a rich backstory. In the early 20th century, it was administered by some doctors as a pain-relief drug β or rather a drug that led to the forgetting of pain β in childbirth until one obstetrician noticed how women who had been given it answered candidly to questions; he later wondered if it could be used when questioning people charged with crimes.
It was used as evidence in some trials, but dubiously. Then there are stories of it being used in Nazi Germany as an interrogation tool, and also in the middle ages by witches. Brugmansia, from which scopolamine is extracted. Photograph: Roberto Nistri. This article is more than 9 years old. Explore more on these topics Drugs Shortcuts Drugs trade features.
