The death of two 18-year-old boys, while partying at the end of August, was reported by the National Police in Getafe, Madrid. Another boy was hospitalized. After the investigation, police concluded that the boys died due to an overdose of a new drug composed of alcohol, speed, and a plant called Datura Stramonium.

The consumption took place in a remote and derelict old monastery where an underground rave party was taking place. Some thought that a 23 year-old male, nicknamed Cabe, must have been involved in the partiers’ deaths. According to party-goers, Cabe had offered free samples of his homemade drug to people.

As Cabe reported to the police “We [Cabe and his girlfriend] handled it for free to lure people to try it and open new markets.” Both Cabe and his girlfriend were arrested and charged of offense against public health and negligent homicide. Three days after Cabe’s public statement and arrest, an unrelated group of adolescent, intrigued by the media coverage of the incident, decided to experiment with the same toxic plant just for fun.

But the euphoria caused bizarre behavior of the boys.  Witnesses reported that one of the guys, at night in the middle of a crowded street, started to suffer hallucinations, was incapable to focus his vision, and was moving his arms as if he was trying to catch something in the air. He was unable to answer questions and only murmured indecipherable words.

A girl observing the scene decided to call the emergency service with her cell phone. Unfortunately the operator on duty did not believe her claims. It took the girl several calls to get an ambulance to come to the scene. Upon arriving, the ambulance was unequipped to care for the drugged up boy and drove him straight to the hospital – the boy was in a deep coma.

Datura Stramonium is an ancient plant with very toxic seeds and leaves that contains atropine, a drug with a wide variety of effects. Among others it can be listed as: delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia or photophobia. There is not a maximum dose per person because it depends on the physical characteristics of the consumer so any quantity can be lethal.

The plant is also known as devil´s weed, devil´s trumpet, moonflower or Jamestown weed. Many are questioning whether the media should raise alarm concerning this drug. Last time there was a similar reported case in Spain, was during 2004 in Valencia; a Danish man was offering a beverage made from Stramonium to whoever wanted it and five people consumed the dangerous substance.

A week later, four more were intoxicated during a Gay Pride Parade due to the same media luring effect.

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A tsunami was expected to hit Alaska on Friday morning, with a warning in effect, but was soon cancelled. The U.S. Geological Service issued, and later cancelled the warning for the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

According to the Associated Press, “a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean prompted a brief tsunami warning early Friday morning for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.”

Shortly after the quake struck Friday morning, the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center warned the public of possible dangers ahead. “A Tsunami Warning is now in effect which includes the coastal areas of Alaska from Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Dutch Harbor) to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak),” the center said.

Late Friday morning, the local tsunami warning was cancelled. “No destructive tsunami has been recorded, and No tsunami danger exists along the coasts of the U.S. west coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. Local authorities can assume all clear upon receipt of this message,” the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said.

The AP said the warning was cancelled after only a small wave was recorded in the community of Atka, Alaska.”In Atka, they had a little bump of a wave, but nothing of any kind of a destructive power. Just a wave,” said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security.Residents were evacuating to higher ground in Atka but then stopped at the cancellation, Zidek told the AP.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake caused no injuries or damage. The temblor was so quiet that most people in the city did not realize that a quake had occurred. People in this quake-prone region are more than accustomed to the ground shaking, the Los Angeles Times reported.

On Sunday, an article by the AP reflected on the weather woes the United States has recently faced. “Nature is pummelling the United States this year with extremes.” Record setting heats, droughts, deadly tornadoes, river overflows, blizzards, and a recent tropical storm that cost $35 billion in damages are the events that characterize the U.S. recent weather patterns.

“I’m hoping for a break. I’m tired of working this hard. This is ridiculous,’’ said Jeff Masters, a meteorologist who runs Weather Underground, a meteorology service that tracks strange and extreme weather.

“I’m not used to seeing all these extremes all at once in one year.’’  While the quake in Alaska Friday turned out to be minor and a tsunami never developed, it’s still another weather incident to add to the U.S.’s action packed year of weather.

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