Woman Injects Black Widow Spider Venom To ‘Get High’ And Nearly Dies In Hospital

If curiosity killed the cat, reckless experimentation nearly claimed the life of a woman who took one of nature’s deadliest substances and injected it straight into her veins. Black widow spider venom, a neurotoxin so potent that a single bite can cause excruciating muscle cramps and paralysis, was never meant to course through human blood—but that didn’t stop her from trying.

Why would someone willingly inject venom known to induce agonizing pain? The answer, disturbingly, lies in a desperate pursuit of an unconventional high—an attempt to achieve euphoria through a substance infamous for causing misery. But instead of intoxication, she found herself in a fight for her life.

As medical professionals worked frantically to reverse the effects of her self-inflicted poisoning, the incident raised serious questions: What exactly happens when black widow venom enters the human bloodstream? What makes this neurotoxin so dangerous? And why are people turning to increasingly extreme measures in their search for altered states?

Woman injects black widow spider venom to ‘get high’ and nearly dies in hospitalhttps://t.co/xtThkb6BX0 pic.twitter.com/IPLXfDgN41

— Daily Star (@dailystar) January 31, 2025

The Incident: A Dangerous Experiment Gone Wrong

The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly injected black widow spider venom in an attempt to experience a “high.” While it remains unclear what kind of sensation she was hoping for—whether euphoria, hallucinations, or a numbing effect—what she experienced instead was a rapid descent into agony. Black widow venom is a potent neurotoxin designed not to create pleasure but to wreak havoc on the nervous system. Within moments, her body reacted violently, triggering excruciating pain, relentless muscle contractions, and severe systemic distress. The decision to bypass the natural injection method of a spider’s bite and introduce the venom directly into her bloodstream led to a far more severe reaction than nature ever intended.

Emergency responders were called as her condition deteriorated, and paramedics arrived to find her in critical distress. Her symptoms mimicked the worst cases of latrodectism—the medical syndrome caused by black widow spider bites—marked by overwhelming muscle cramps, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors worked frantically to stabilize her. Unlike a spider bite, where the venom spreads gradually through the lymphatic system, injecting it directly into the bloodstream meant the neurotoxin spread almost instantly, amplifying its effects and sending her body into shock.

Medical professionals quickly administered pain relief and, eventually, an antivenom to counteract the toxin, but her condition remained serious. The venom’s ability to overstimulate the nervous system resulted in uncontrollable muscle spasms, respiratory distress, and an overwhelming sense of impending doom—a psychological effect often reported by black widow bite victims. The severity of her reaction underscored the life-threatening consequences of self-experimentation, especially with substances that were never meant to interact with the human body in such a direct and unregulated manner. Her survival hinged on immediate medical intervention, serving as a chilling reminder of how reckless curiosity can lead to a brush with death.

What Happens When Black Widow Venom Enters the Human Body?

Black widow spider venom is a highly potent neurotoxin that targets the nervous system, causing severe and often debilitating symptoms. Unlike the venom of some other venomous creatures, which can cause localized pain or tissue damage, black widow venom works by interfering with nerve signals, leading to widespread, agonizing effects throughout the body. The primary active component of the venom is alpha-latrotoxin, which forces nerve cells to continuously release neurotransmitters, overwhelming the nervous system and causing a cascade of painful and dangerous symptoms.

When a black widow bites a person, the venom is usually delivered in a controlled dose through the spider’s fangs, allowing it to spread slowly through the lymphatic system before reaching the bloodstream. This process, while still extremely painful, gives the body a chance to respond gradually. However, injecting venom directly into a vein bypasses this natural process, leading to an immediate and full-force reaction. The toxin floods the nervous system, triggering severe muscle cramps, violent spasms, and an intense tightening of the chest and abdominal muscles. Victims often describe the pain as feeling like a heart attack or a full-body muscle seizure.

Beyond physical pain, black widow venom also has psychological and systemic effects. Many victims report experiencing extreme anxiety, restlessness, and a sense of impending doom—an effect thought to be linked to the venom’s impact on neurotransmitter regulation. The body’s fight-or-flight response goes into overdrive, causing an elevated heart rate, profuse sweating, and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing. While black widow bites rarely result in death, the venom can be especially dangerous for young children, elderly individuals, or those with underlying health conditions. In cases like this woman’s, where the venom was injected in an uncontrolled manner, the risks are significantly higher, as the body has no way to moderate the toxin’s spread.

Doctors treating her likely had to rely on a combination of pain management, muscle relaxants, and in extreme cases, the administration of antivenom. While antivenom exists, it is typically reserved for the most severe cases due to the risk of allergic reactions and is only administered in controlled hospital settings. Without rapid medical intervention, the woman’s condition could have quickly turned fatal, proving just how dangerous black widow venom is when it enters the body in such an unnatural and unregulated way.

Expert Opinions: Why This Was a Life-Threatening Mistake

Medical professionals and toxicology experts have been quick to weigh in on the dangers of injecting black widow venom, emphasizing that this kind of self-experimentation is not only reckless but potentially fatal. Unlike controlled substances that have been studied for their effects on the human body, venom is designed by nature to incapacitate and subdue prey—making it a highly unpredictable and dangerous substance for human use.

Dr. Leslie Boyer, a toxicologist and founder of the Venom Immunochemistry, Pharmacology, and Emergency Response Institute, explains that black widow venom is not meant to enter the bloodstream directly. “The venom is naturally injected into muscle tissue, where it slowly spreads and interacts with the nervous system. When it’s injected directly into a vein, the effects can be far more severe and immediate, essentially overwhelming the body’s ability to cope.”

The key component of black widow venom, alpha-latrotoxin, targets nerve endings, causing an uncontrolled release of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and glutamate. The result is intense muscle contractions, respiratory distress, and in severe cases, organ failure. While a bite from a black widow is rarely fatal, the way the venom was introduced in this case significantly amplified its effects, putting the woman at a much higher risk of serious complications.

Toxicologists also stress that there is no known psychoactive or hallucinogenic effect associated with black widow venom, debunking any notion that it could induce a pleasurable “high.” In fact, latrodectism—the condition caused by envenomation—causes extreme pain, anxiety, sweating, and in some cases, delirium, none of which are remotely desirable. Poison control specialists warn that misinformation and urban myths about substances like venom being used for recreational effects can lead to deadly consequences, as seen in this case.

A Growing Trend of Dangerous Self-Experimentation

This incident is not just an isolated case of reckless behavior—it is part of a disturbing trend where individuals experiment with extreme and often life-threatening substances in pursuit of altered states. From inhaling toxic chemicals to injecting venom and consuming unregulated plant extracts, people are increasingly turning to unconventional and dangerous methods to achieve a so-called “high,” often with tragic consequences.

Experts suggest that misinformation, urban myths, and the rise of internet subcultures play a major role in fueling these behaviors. Social media platforms and fringe online communities often spread anecdotal accounts or unverified claims about substances that supposedly produce intense, mind-altering experiences. In reality, many of these so-called “natural highs” are nothing more than misguided attempts at self-experimentation, with little to no scientific basis supporting their effects. In the case of black widow venom, the notion that it could create any pleasurable or euphoric sensation is entirely false—yet, the belief was strong enough to convince this woman to inject it directly into her veins.

Neuropsychopharmacologists and toxicologists warn that self-experimentation with venom and other toxic substances is not only dangerous but also highly unpredictable. Venoms and poisons evolved to harm or incapacitate other organisms, not to create pleasure or altered states. Any claim that they can be used recreationally is based on misinformation, and in most cases, the result is severe toxicity rather than any kind of high.

The Aftermath: Her Recovery and Public Health Warnings

After being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, the woman received immediate medical intervention to counteract the effects of the venom. Doctors administered strong pain relievers and muscle relaxants to ease the intense cramps and spasms caused by the neurotoxin. Given the severity of her reaction, she was likely placed under close observation, with a medical team monitoring her heart rate, breathing, and nervous system function. In extreme cases, black widow envenomation can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, respiratory distress, and even organ failure—complications that require swift and precise treatment.

Medical professionals treating her had to determine whether she needed antivenom, a treatment typically reserved for severe cases due to the potential for allergic reactions. Unlike controlled medications, venom antivenoms are created from antibodies developed in response to the toxin, meaning that they can sometimes trigger serious immune responses. Given the fact that she injected the venom directly into her bloodstream, the risks of both the venom and the treatment itself would have been carefully weighed. Fortunately, with proper care, she survived the ordeal, though the long-term effects of such an experiment remain unknown.

Following the incident, toxicologists and medical experts issued strong warnings against experimenting with venom or other dangerous substances. Poison control centers frequently deal with cases of accidental envenomation, but deliberate injection of venom is almost unheard of—likely because it is widely understood to be life-threatening. The medical community continues to stress that there are no safe ways to use venom recreationally. Unlike controlled substances, which are at least studied for their effects on human physiology, venom is a weapon of nature designed to immobilize and subdue. It is not meant to interact with the human body in any way beyond its intended function, and once it enters the bloodstream, its effects are unpredictable and dangerous.

A Lesson in the Dangers of Misguided Curiosity

The woman who injected black widow venom into her bloodstream may have survived, but her ordeal serves as a stark reminder of how dangerous reckless self-experimentation can be. In her attempt to achieve an unconventional high, she instead faced severe pain, life-threatening complications, and a near-death experience that required urgent medical intervention. Her case is not just about one poor decision—it highlights a broader issue of misinformation, thrill-seeking behavior, and the increasing willingness of some individuals to push the limits of human biology without understanding the consequences.

The dangers of venom are well-documented, yet myths about its potential psychoactive effects continue to circulate. Unlike substances that have been studied for their impact on human physiology, black widow venom is a neurotoxin evolved to paralyze and subdue prey. Its effects on the human nervous system are not pleasurable or mind-altering but excruciatingly painful and potentially fatal. This case demonstrates the disastrous outcomes that can arise when people take risks based on misinformation rather than scientific fact.

Beyond this individual incident, experts continue to warn against the growing trend of extreme self-experimentation. From injecting snake venom to inhaling toxic chemicals, people seeking altered states through dangerous methods are gambling with their lives. Public health officials stress the importance of critical thinking, reliable sources of information, and the rejection of internet-fueled myths that promote unsafe behaviors.