Two sisters test positive for marijuana after eating gummy bears: Warning about drugs 'disguised' in food

In addition to the case of two sisters, aged 9 and 22, who panicked after eating unlabeled gummy candies containing marijuana, many students have also been poisoned after eating cakes, chocolates, candies or popcorn mixed with this substance.

Doctor examines patient who tested positive for marijuana after eating unlabeled gummy candy brought back from abroad by an acquaintance - Photo: Provided by Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital

Drugs "hide" in cakes, candies, chocolates, weight loss teas...

Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital (HCMC) has just admitted two sisters, aged 9 and 22, who were in a panic after eating unlabeled gummies brought back from abroad by an acquaintance. The test results were positive for marijuana.

Thirty minutes after eating this candy, the two sisters experienced symptoms of dizziness, nausea, tremors in their hands and feet, and agitation.

The Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital) has also received patients with marijuana poisoning after eating certain types of cakes, chocolates, candies, popcorn...

Ho Chi Minh City police have warned that a number of new types of drugs have appeared in the area targeting students, causing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and even fainting.

These drugs are often "hidden" in familiar packaging such as weight loss tea, cordyceps, fruit juice powder (Crispy fruit, Crispy fruit grape, Mango, Yaoyao), or under the names "strawberry juice", "happy water", "White Coffee", "CHALI"... and are smuggled into Vietnam.

Worryingly, "disguised" drugs are also being openly sold in online shops, appearing at entertainment venues, bars, nightclubs, and even infiltrating school environments to lure and entice students.

Drugs are not cheap, parents need to manage their children's pocket money

Speaking to Tuoi Tre on August 21, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hien, former head of Department T2 (substance addiction) of Ho Chi Minh City Mental Hospital, said that price is the most important factor in identifying candy containing drugs.

A piece of cake containing banned substances costs 200,000 - 300,000 VND, while a piece of drug candy costs at least 100,000 VND, hundreds of times more expensive than regular candy. "Buyers must be aware of the unusually high price. Therefore, the possibility of buying the wrong thing because they think it is normal candy is almost impossible," he said.

Regarding the signs of using products containing drugs, Dr. Hien said that in people who have never used them before, they are often expressed through physical reactions and uncomfortable feelings such as: dizziness, lightheadedness, lightheadedness, and nausea.

These symptoms were more pronounced in groups that had never been exposed to any stimulants, including alcohol and tobacco. The feeling of discomfort and dizziness often began almost immediately.

In contrast, people who are used to using stimulants may not experience this initial discomfort, because their bodies have gradually become accustomed to these substances.

Dr. Hien recommends that parents should not give their children too much money, because it is easy for children to become interested in street goods that are difficult to control. Therefore, parents can rest assured that drugs never cost just a few thousand dong, and it is very difficult for children to "accidentally" buy them at a cheap price.

Because of the high cost, controlling and limiting the money in the hands of children will help reduce the risk of them having access to these banned substances.

Ho Chi Minh City Police recommends that people be vigilant, regularly update and monitor information about the harmful effects of drugs (especially new types of drugs); methods and tricks of drug criminals to recognize and prevent.

People need to pay attention to educating and advising their children not to participate in storing and using electronic cigarettes, functional foods, and stimulants of unknown origin...

It is necessary to pay attention and detect early any unusual signs in children so that timely measures can be taken to encourage and prevent them from using foods and stimulants of unknown origin. When detecting unusual signs, immediately report to the nearest authorities and police...

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hien added that marijuana is commonly known as dried leaves and is used by rolling and smoking like tobacco. Marijuana has a very distinctive and easily recognizable burning smell, so its use is easily detected.

The extraction of cannabinols or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from cannabis leaves into a solution and then mixed with baking ingredients. This type is usually mixed with strawberry flavor, chocolate flavor…

This will neutralize the characteristic smell of marijuana when used by rolling and smoking, making it easier to fool the authorities, as well as making parents lose their vigilance.

SPRING PLUM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/an-keo-deo-hai-chi-em-duong-tinh-can-sa-canh-bao-ma-tuy-nguy-trang-thuc-pham-20250822083618846.htm