As a rehab in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, we know that people will use just about anything to get high.
From magic markers to whipped cream canisters, the possibilities are almost endless.As if kissing a frog to see if it will turn into a prince wasn’t weird enough, there are actually cases of people licking frogs to get high. While this may be a weird way to get high that is almost comical, getting high off frogs is dangerous and even life-threatening.
Hallucinogenic Frogs
Before you decide to go about licking frogs from your local pond for fun, there are a few things you should know. Not every toad can get you high, and those that do will lead to drastically different results depending on the exact species. Several species of toads secrete toxins like Bufotenine that have hallucinogenic properties, but toads in the Bufonidae family seem to be the most commonly used for this purpose.
Toad licking also doesn’t necessarily have to involve getting up close and personal with these slimy creatures. While some people will lick the back of the toad itself, others will collect the toxins that are secreted for later use. Either way, while toad licking may lead to some desired psychoactive effects it can also be deadly.
Dangers of Toad Licking
Although people are using the toxins from these toads to get high, that is not their intent. Toads will secrete these substances when they are scared or threatened to protect themselves from predators. Being poisonous, these chemicals are fast-acting and meant to severely harm or even kill any creature that attacks. There have been plenty of stories of the average dog licking cane toads and dying as a result.
While many animals have become aware of these toxic toads and do their best to avoid them, humans have taken this knowledge to a whole different level. If not fatal, licking toads can sometimes lead to desirable effects, but there are a variety of health problems that can also arise in between.
Some toad licking effects may include:
- Hallucinations
- Euphoria
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety
- Muscle weakness
- Cardiovascular problems
- Seizures
- Death1
Because the levels of chemicals secreted at one time can vary from species to species and specific frog to specific frog, a toad licker can have no idea what to expect when they ingest these chemicals. Because of the unpredictability of toad licking, the results can be fatal.
If someone is going to such an extent as to lick a frog to get high, they probably need help. While the chemicals in these frogs do not tend to be addictive, if someone is willing to lick a toad to get high, they are likely willing to get high in other ways as well. These other methods of substance abuse are probably just as dangerous and may even be addictive. If you or someone you care about is abusing psychoactive substances, get help before it is too late. Our partial hospitalization rehab in Philly helps people overcome these problems and get their lives back on track. --
At Banyan Philadelphia, we help people overcome various types of substance abuse problems. To learn more or to get started on the road to recovery, call us today at 888-966-9413
