Datura leaves, seeds, flowers, and roots contain psychoactive chemicals (scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine) that not only cause delirium, extreme disorientation, and realistic hallucinations but also potentially dangerous anticholinergic physical effects. Datura ingestion has caused numerous hospitalizations and deaths around the world.

Physical symptoms of datura intoxication include: blurred vision, pupil dilation, skin flushing, fever, severe dry mouth, dry mucous membranes (in some cases leading to nose bleeds), decreased bowel movement, reduced urination, hyperthermia, hypertension, and tachycardia. The combination of delirium and dangerous overheating and cardiovascular stimulation can result in patients who are in physical danger but who are unaware of the symptoms they are experiencing and unable to seek help.

An older mnemonic for anticholinergic toxicity taught in medical schools was "Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as hell (or 'hot as a hare'), dry as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs alone."

Many users report periods of several hours in which they have no memory of what they were doing. Behavior is often irrational and accidental injury is a serious risk.