Doctor warns about potentially dangerous backyard plant

WHEAT RIDGE – Doctors say parents need a reminder about a common but dangerous plant in Colorado that's sending teens to the hospital.

A plant commonly called Moonflower is often used as a decorative plant in gardens, but its seeds are toxic if ingested.

Authorities at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge say in just the past week, five teens were hospitalized after they used the seeds of the plant to get high.

Two ended up in the intensive care unit and had to be sedated so they would not be a threat to themselves or others.

“Parents should be aware, and kids should be aware too, that it's not a safe thing to do, that it's potentially really dangerous serious consequences and it's not a safe high,” said Dr. Phillip Emrie with Foothills Medical Center.

Moonflower seeds can cause hallucinations, which is why some people ingest them. However, users can also become delirious and combative and can even have seizures.