Rising Concerns Over Sale of Illegal E-cigarettes to Minors

Feb.08
Rising Concerns Over Sale of Illegal E-cigarettes to Minors
Malaysia parents fear as rumors of illegal drugs in e-cigarettes sold to minors spark calls for stricter regulations.

According to Malaymail on January 8, rumors of e-cigarettes containing illegal drugs being openly sold to minors in Malaysia have sparked fear among some parents. Calls have been made to strengthen regulations, and some even advocate for a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarette devices.


At present, there is no clear conclusion on the specific drugs being used with these devices, but a flavor called "magic mushrooms" is widely mentioned. It is said that this flavor can cause users to experience hallucinations and become aggressive.


According to reports, this "magic mushroom" flavored e-liquid can be evaporated through an e-cigarette device and openly sold by vendors on communication platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, or social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok.


Test results show that the main ingredient in the e-cigarette liquid with the flavor of "magic mushroom" is PCP, which is known for causing hallucinations and severe psychological disorders as a dissociative anesthetic.


According to data from the Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), as of September this year, approximately 170,000 people have been arrested for drug use, with over 70% of them caught with synthetic drugs. Despite AADK stating that the use of so-called "magic mushroom" flavored e-cigarettes is on the rise among minors, the agency did not specify the addiction rate associated with it.


Dr. Mohd Fadzli Mohd Isa, a specialist in addiction psychiatry, stated that the current regulations for the sale of e-cigarettes are lenient. While it is prohibited to sell them to minors, there are not strict restrictions on sellers. He is calling for tighter regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes.


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