Social media and online influencer marketing has gone a long way in an attempt to normalize use of some substances labeled as "legal" or "natural" to give people the perception that these products are relatively harmless for human consumption. Truth is that they are not safe and use of many of these substances can put young people at risk.
Following up on Monday's post, Pharmacists Partner in Prevention, we've learned that pharmacists are now speaking out about commonly used substances in the gray zone of legality and safety that have become more accessible to youth. What's worse is that they are being placed for sale in plain sight on the sheves of neighborhood gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops.
Druggists warn that there is a need to share factual information with the public about the many hidden health risks in substances like nitrous oxide, kratom, delta-8 and delta-9 THC, and salvia divinorum. Studies show these products are associated with dependence, neurologic injury, psychiatric effects, and accidental harm in the youth population.
Let's examine some of these substances marketed as "legal" or "natural":
Nitrous Oxide - known as "whippets" or "laughing gas," these products are frequently misused for their euphoric effects. The flavored containers, intended for culinary use, are marketed under brand names such as "galaxy gas" that have gained popularity among youth through social media. Recreational use of nitrous oxide can results in irreversible neurologic injury and related health complications.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) - Kratom, marketed as a dietary supplement for pain relief, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal, has been linked to seizures, liver damage, hypertension, and opioid-like withdrawal symptoms. FDA analysis has identified contamination with heavy metals and pathogenic organisms in unregulated products.
Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC - these THC products, widely marketed as "legal" cannabis alternatives, can be found on store shelves in the form of edibles, vape cartridges, and tinctures. Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. Delta-8 THC is a synthetic form with similar psychoactive effects. These products have raised concerns about inaccurate labeling, excessive THC, and contamination from chemical products. Effects such as anxiety, paranoia, impaired cognition, and psychosis are known to be amplified in adolescents and youth.
Salvia Divinorum - when smoked or chewed, salvinorin A is known to produce rapid-onset hallucinations, dissociation, and loss of environmental awareness. Psychoactive effects of Salvia use can bring on panic reactions, accidental injuries, and prolonged psychological distress - its sale as a novelty or incense product may obscure its clinical risks.
Know the Facts!
https://www.drugtopics.com/view/hidden-in-plain-sight-legal-substances-putting-children-at-risk
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