THE DRUG ADDICTS, THE PET SHOP BOYS AND A TALE OF MISSING TOADS

"A high as a toad" has become a common expression in parts of the
Netherlands, known the world over for its permissive attitude to
drugs. Drug addicts have embarked on a new and cheaper alternative to
LSD - toad licking.

Dutch pet shops have been warned to be on the lookout after the theft
of a number of South American giant cane toads (Bufo marinus) The
toads, measuring up to 30cm long, excrete a milky white liquid from
behind their bulging eyes which, when licked, causes hallucinations
described as 12 times stronger than LSD. The effects can last for up
to seven hours.

Police in the city of Leeuwarden, capital of the province of
Friesland, are hunting drug addicts who raided a shop specialising in
toads and reptiles, and stole three of its South American cane toads.
According to local media reports, addicts have been queueing up to
lick the toads' backs in several hostels for drug-abuse victims.

Licking the excretion, a type of venom released by the toads when they
are frightened or disturbed to repel their enemies, can be very
dangerous, Dutch doctors say. They warn of swollen tongue and possible
paralysis or even death if the heart muscles become paralysed from the
toxins, which attack the nervous system in humans. The police have
been issued with special boxes to cage the stolen toads.

Richard Mastenbroek, a pet shop owner, said: "I really fear for the
toads' welfare; the addicts who have taken them to lick their backs
for a high would have no idea of how to care for them.

"The toads are non-aggressive and will be terrified at being handled
this way. Furthermore, the very cold weather in Holland at the moment
will mean certain death. They need to be kept in day temperatures of
up to 28C with high humidity."

Earlier this year, the Dutch Supreme Court banned over-the-counter
sales of dried magic mushrooms, another cheap and popular hallucinogen
freely available at coffee shops and special outlets selling kits to
grow cannabis plants. The court held that the mushrooms were an
illegal drug.