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
📋Quick facts
Also known asAbsinthe, The Green Fairy, Wormwood spirit, La Fée Verte
CategoryPsychedelics
Schedule / classLegal alcohol product (thujone-limited) EU/US; historic bans largely repealed
AppearanceGreen anise-flavored spirit at 45–74% ABV; the 'louche' ritual with sugar and water
Street price$30–$90 per bottle
Legal statusLegal with thujone limits (US/EU); historic bans repealed 2000s
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: EMA, FDA, PubMed
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 |
| Alcohol (Ethanol) | Legal adult product worldwide; sale to minors banned | THE most harmful drug in most countries by total harm scores: liver disease (cirrhosis), cancer (7 types — breast, colon, liver...); Dependence: ~10-15% of regular heavy drinkers; withdrawal can KILL (seizures, delirium tremens — deadlier than heroin withdrawal) | ~$1–$3 per standard drink retail |
| Datura (Jimsonweed / Devil's Trumpet) | Not federally scheduled US | THE TOXIDROME: overheating (can't sweat), racing heart, urinary retention, blindness-level pupil dilation — hospitalizations and ICU stays are COMMON, not rare; Teen dare trend ('Datura challenge' videos) has poisoned thousands | Free — grows wild on every continent |
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.