Psychedelics
Absinthe (Wormwood / Thujone)
Street names: Absinthe, The Green Fairy, Wormwood spirit, La Fée Verte
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Alcohol's effects plus (at historic adulterated doses) thujone's GABA-modulating stimulation — modern legal absinthe is mostly just very strong liquor
- The 'green fairy hallucination' legend is mostly myth
⚠Key risks
- THE MYTH vs THE REALITY: 'absinthism' (hallucinations, madness) was mostly 19th-century adulteration with copper salts/antimony and plain alcoholism — modern thujone limits (35 mg/kg EU) make true thujone poisoning near-impossible from legit bottles
- Real risks = 70% ABV alcohol: dependence, poisoning
- Grey-market 'thujone-boosted' bottles can exceed limits — seizures reported
- Historic bans (Switzerland 1910–2005, US 1912–2007) built the mystique
✚Overdose signs
- Alcohol poisoning (the actual risk)
- Seizures from adulterated/high-thujone products
Category comparison — Psychedelics
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absinthe (Wormwood / Thujone) | Legal alcohol product | THE MYTH vs THE REALITY: 'absinthism' (hallucinations, madness) was mostly 19th-century adulteration with copper salts/antimony and plain alcoholism — modern thujone limits (35 mg/kg EU) make true thujone poisoning near-impossible from legit bottles; Real risks = 70% ABV alcohol: dependence, poisoning | $30–$90 per bottle |
| DMT (dimethyltryptamine) | Schedule I | Psychological distress ('bad trips'); Dangerous behavior if unprepared | ~$20–$60 per 50–100 mg dose |
| Peyote (mescaline cactus) | Schedule I | Severe nausea/vomiting; Psychological distress | ~$10–$30 per button where sold |
| Mescaline powder | Schedule I | Heavy nausea at dose; Panic/psychosis in vulnerable users | ~$20–$60 per dose |
| 2C-B | Schedule I | Very dose-sensitive — steep curve between fun and overwhelming; Panic attacks | ~$10–$30 per pill or ~$50–$120 per gram |
| 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin) | Analogue prosecutions | Sold as 'legal mushrooms' — buyers misjudge dose; Panic, risky behavior | ~$20–$50 per dose |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Absinthe (Wormwood / Thujone) look like?
Green anise-flavored spirit at 45–74% ABV; the 'louche' ritual with sugar and water
What are the signs of a Absinthe (Wormwood / Thujone) overdose?
Alcohol poisoning (the actual risk); Seizures from adulterated/high-thujone products Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
THE MYTH vs THE REALITY: 'absinthism' (hallucinations, madness) was mostly 19th-century adulteration with copper salts/antimony and plain alcoholism — modern thujone limits (35 mg/kg EU) make true thujone poisoning near-impossible from legit bottles Dependence can develop with regular use.