Burundanga, the drug capable of nullifying your will
The burundanga , also called scopolamine , has turned out to be the perfect psychotropic substance for the aggressors, because it causes an automatism in the brain of the victim causing a state of submission before any order. In this way, Some offenders and sex offenders supply the drug to the person they want to steal, rape or even murder. Once consumed, the victim is totally unprotected.
There are few scientific publications dedicated especially to intoxication with burundanga. This article aims to show a collection of interesting data about this substance, while also trying to make people aware of the fact of taking preventive measures in certain situations.
What do we know about the Burundanga?
Scopolamine, also known as burundanga, is a trophic alkaloid extremely toxic that is found as a secondary metabolite in certain plants. For centuries it has been widely used for ritual purposes, in shamanism and witchcraft (Ardila-Ardila, Moreno and Ardila-Gomez, 2006).
It is currently used to commit crimes such as robberies, kidnappings and sexual crimes.
Medicinal use of the Burundanga
Scopolamine is not only related to criminal purposes, it also has its medicinal use in which it should be used in low doses (less than 330 micrograms) because an overdose can cause delusions, aggression, disorientation, seizures, coma, and even death (Álvarez, 2008).
It is used, in the field of medicine, to prevent and treat dizziness, for dilatation of the pupil in fundus examination and is even used as antispasmodic, local analgesic and antiparkinsonian.
Criminal use of this drug
As it mentioned above, It is a drug used for criminal purposes , because the victim intoxicated with burundanga follows any order without presenting resistance, that is, if ordered, he is able to offer his money and belongings without making an attempt to escape. Frequently it is used for robberies, because the sexual abuse, according to data compiled by Ardila-Ardila, Moreno and Ardila-Gomez (2006) corresponds to less than 5% of the cases.
What makes it difficult to detect this drug for the victim is that it does not know or smell anything in particular and can be supplied through different means, such as food, drink (if it is alcoholic beverages the depressant effect increases) or even by inhalation (for example, a contaminated cigar or handkerchief). Scopolamine is one of the most dangerous drugs, not only because of the above, but also because if the aggressor exceeds the dose in a few micrograms, will cause the death of the victim .
Symptoms of scopolamine poisoning
According to Salcedo and Martínez (2009), scopolamine It is rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and it has a great facility to cross the blood-brain barrier, therefore it has an almost immediate effect, in a matter of a few minutes the victim will probably be under the effects showing a vulnerable behavior, at the same time that his will be submitted to the aggressor, that is, the will of the victim will be completely annulled. During the first three hours we can observe its greatest effect.
This effect is due to the fact that scopolamine acts as anticholinergic causing a depressant effect of the central and peripheral nervous system, therefore, its symptoms are several, among them we can highlight the Dilation of the pupils (blurry vision), stupor (partial state of consciousness in the person), tachycardia, urinary retention, reduction of salivary and stomach secretion (dry mouth, thirst, difficulty swallowing and speaking), fever, drowsiness and severe amnesia.
During the amnestic episode, the victim maintains a personal identity and can adequately perform normal activities of daily life, it is as if the victim were left "Hypnotized" at the hands of her aggressor , because it is able to guide the aggressor to his bank and provide him with the secret code, for example. It is a substance that causes a complete elimination of free will while it continues to act, the brain is automated doing what is ordered and responding properly without censorship, for this reason this alkaloid is also known as "serum of truth" and a very interesting fact to keep in mind is that back this drug had been used by the INC during the war for the hostages to tell the truth about espionage cases.
What happens at brain level having consumed Burundanga?
The strange thing in this case is that the victim apparently does not seem drugged or sleepy . Apparently it is in a normal state, for this reason it is very difficult for people around to perceive that the victim is under the effects of said drug. The burundanga makes everything that happens to the person seem normal, although its effects are very specific and quite powerful, although discrete. What is happening in our brain?
It is now evident that scopolamine acts on the mnesic functions and the behavior but you do not know exactly what your action is. Ardila-Ardila, Moreno and Ardila-Gomez (2006) have shown through various studies that the mnesic and behavioral effects of burundanga intoxication are likely to be due to their anticholinergic character and to their involvement in certain nuclei of the frontal lobe (Basal nucleus of Meynert) and temporary (lobe that includes hippocampus and limbic system seeing, in this way, affected the amygdala, responsible for reacting to threatening stimuli).
Scopolamine intoxication is an example of transient global amnesia and the severity of its effect will depend on the dose used.
Repercussions after poisoning
Dr. Myriam Gutiérrez, who heads the department of Toxicology at the National University of Colombia, assures us that the burundanga is the perfect substance for criminal acts since the victim can not remember anything (not even that she herself has collaborated in the fact) and, therefore, there is no complaint. In addition, this substance disappears within 15-30 minutes of the blood and in about 12 hours it also disappears from the urine, which makes it extremely difficult to obtain positive toxicological analyzes. This, of course, represents a limitation to prove that someone has been poisoned (Ardila-Ardila, Moreno and Ardila-Gómez, 2006).
Subsequent to the fact, other studies, such as the one carried out by Bernal, Gómez, López and Acosta (2013), show that many of the victims of scopolamine poisoning have shown, once past the intoxication episode, important repercussions at the medical, cognitive and social level such as attentional and concentration failures, anterograde amnesia (difficulty remembering recent events), anxiety, isolation, etc. These negative effects on health are due to the fact that, in most cases, this episode generates trauma and leaves sequels, a psychological treatment and subsequent follow-up is important.
Scarce are the tips to be given, since We are all vulnerable to fall into situations like this , however it is always good to make reminders of preventive measures such as: always have controlled the drink when we go out for a drink, try to go out in a group, and in the event that we see ourselves in this situation (God forbid ...) is very important to go to the nearest hospital (try to go without urinating and without washing) and, of course, report .
Conclusions and data to keep in mind about the Burundanga
The burundanga is, in short, a substance whose main utility is to induce a state of chemical submission. It is a drug made to be used in crimes and criminal acts, so its study is important to implement preventive measures. Unfortunately, perhaps because of the link between the burundanga and the nocturnal party contexts and, sometimes, the sordid environments, little is known about scopolamine.
It is possible that the burundanga is produced on a small scale by related laboratories, which maintain some control over the destination of their merchandise in order to avoid attracting too much attention. However, it is expected that if the effects of burundanga become more popular, this power to monitor what happens with scopolamine will be lost. Unfortunately, the level of knowledge about this drug will go hand in hand with its use.
Bibliographic references:
- Álvarez, L. (2008). Borrachero, cocoa sabanero or floripondio. A group of plants to rediscover in the Latin American biodiversity. Culture and Drugs, 13(15), 77-93.
- Ardila-Ardila, A., Moreno, C. B., and Ardila-Gómez S. E. (2006). Scopolamine poisoning ('burundanga'): loss of ability to make decisions. Neurology journal, 42(2), 125-128.
- Bernal, A., Gómez, D., López, S., and Acosta, M. R. (2013). Neuropsychological, neurological and psychiatric implications in a case of scopolamine poisoning. Psychology: advances in the discipline, 7(1), 105-118.
- Salcedo, J., and Martínez, I. (2009). Scopolamine poisoning. Pan American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools.