In a macabre twist on the quest for a natural high, individuals are risking their health, banking on the hallucinogenic potential of rotten meat, as a new and bizarre trend sweeps the internet.
According to a disturbing report from IFL Science, folks across America are tucking into putrefying slabs of uncooked meat in the ill-conceived belief that it could serve as a shortcut to euphoria, especially in regions where marijuana remains outlawed. The question is, does this risqué method work, or is it just another reckless fad spreading rapidly in the vast expanse of the world wide web?
Branded as ‘high meat’ by IFL Science, this worrying trend doesn’t involve indulging in a succulent steak tartare; rather, it’s an unsettling affair of consuming raw meat that has been left to rot for extensive periods, sometimes stretching up to two whole years. The enthusiasts of this unsettling practice wait till a thick bacterial sludge, a telltale sign of decomposing meat, covers the putrid fare before they devour it with gusto—a sight that would have most people fleeing in disgust.
The report from IFL Science sheds light on the shocking mindset of this trend’s followers. The idea of cooking is dismissed as overrated by these daredevils, who prefer to gorge on raw meat that’s not just slightly spoiled but entirely rotten, characterized by years of decomposition, a bacterial surface layer, and a distinct change in color.
The real question, though, is why would anyone put themselves through such a stomach-churning experience? The answer lies in a misguided belief that feasting on this foul fare can send them on a euphoric trip. Two compounds, cadaverine and putrescine, which are produced during decomposition, are thought to hold the key to these psychoactive effects.
However, according to a study published in Medical Hypotheses, these effects might be more myth than reality. Dr. Pieter Cohen, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a general internist at Cambridge Health Alliance, shared with IFLScience, “Ingesting putrescine and cadaverine is unlikely to produce any psychoactive effect in humans as they are rapidly metabolized and eliminated.”
In essence, if you’re tempted to try rotten meat in a misguided quest for a natural high, think again— it’s a fool’s errand that’ll only leave you with a gut full of harmful bacteria.
IFL Science further reported on the severe consequences that come with eating ‘high meat’. The rotten food could be a breeding ground for potentially deadly bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella, posing significant health risks. Even those fortunate enough to escape the worst-case scenario still reported explosive stomach upsets—a ‘lucky’ outcome when you consider the risks. Acute food poisoning, hospitalization, and enduring days of debilitating pain, nausea, and vomiting are just a few of the many hazards that come with this risky venture.
Attempting to find a natural high in rotten meat is a dangerous game with no real payoff. The risks are numerous, the rewards nonexistent. So before you’re swayed by the allure of an internet trend, remember that the stakes are high, and the ‘high meat’ certainly isn’t worth it.
Source: AWM