The Sofia District Prosecutor's Office is self-reporting the energy powders, whose advertising face became a folk singer. The prosecution explained that a file has been opened and an investigation is underway. Also, the Minister of Health, Galya Kondeva, ordered the Regional Health Inspections to carry out inspections in an urgent order in physical objects, for which there is information that the so-called may be offered. “energy sniff”. Are there risks… Lawyer Maria Petrova, specialist in medical law, spoke to FAKTI.
- Attorney Petrova, the advertisement of an energy product that sniffs has caused a lot of debate. What, in fact, is this – is it a drink, is it just a toning powder…
- I can't answer this question exactly. If it's a drink, it's supposed to be sipped, not snorted. And the fact that if it was a drink, it would have been registered as such in the Bulgarian Food Agency, and it is not. If it is a tonic powder, the question arises whether the same product is registered as a medicinal product, because the application of the powder through the nasal mucosa, if we expect this to happen legally, it should be registered as a medicinal product that has passed all phases of testing. Respectively, to have received their permits from the Medicines Executive Agency. There is no evidence that this is the case, because if there were, they would sell it in pharmacies, not on some questionable sites on the Internet.
At this stage, we have no information about the specific product holding any permits, certifications or any certifications as to what exactly is being offered.
- Are we again having a breakthrough in the legislation, because apparently there are no regulations for such a product?
- On the contrary, it is not a breach in the legislation. Not every powder needs to be allowed to be registered and used by humans.
This energy powder is an absolutely illegal product, a psychostimulant.
Just because someone sells something, and has the audacity, audacity, and stupidity to advertise it, far from makes it legal, much less useful.
This is a ridiculous and dangerous attempt to impose something extremely dangerous and harmful on society as something that is almost legal, permissible, correct and harmless.
And from people who have no qualifications, but “have experience” and abuse the popularity and influence they have, especially among teenagers. In Bulgaria, we know the so-called designer drugs, these are substances that are not on the list of narcotics, but are far from legal or safe. Society must reprimand such manifestations, and the use and distribution of such substances, if their origin and safety have not been proven, be criminalized.
- For a month and more, the Ministry of Health and the Food Agency have not come out with a clear position, and the product has been talked about for a longer time. Is it harmful or not? Can anyone tell?
- We can safely say that it is not safe. Until we have the relevant certificates, the question arises in our country about what this powder actually is. Outside of the legal definitions, whether we will call it a drink, whether it will be a food supplement, whether it will be a medicinal product, we do not know what to call it. Every day new and new dangerous substances appear on the market, and the lack of clarity about their composition is only one prerequisite for accepting that they should not be allowed to be offered to people.
- Taking it clearly makes an association with taking a certain drug. Is that the big problem?
- This is not the only big problem. Ultimately, for me, the actions that were taking place in this clip speak volumes. The only analogy I make with my knowledge and life experience is like using drugs. I advocate the thesis that such actions are obscene, directed against public order, harmful to society and should not be allowed. I believe that this is a hooliganism, and the persons who allow themselves to do so must bear criminal responsibility, including criminal liability. If not, to be so deprived of public confidence and approbation that it is a more severe punishment for what they do. Some artists for money cannot mislead and negatively influence teenagers. I am not a prosecutor, but I hope that the prosecutor's office will get involved in the case.
This “thing” it is sold on sites where the composition is not indicated, there are no uploaded certificates, it is not clear from a medical point of view what harm and what effects it can cause.
Accordingly, I accept that it directly endangers the health of all who use it, especially if they are minors. I strongly believe that such products should be withdrawn from the market.
It is important to consider that this has been an unresolved problem for years, and now we risk that instead of being solved, it will be used as political chewing gum in the next campaign, because we have been in a campaign for the last three years, and no real measures have been taken. to protect the life and health of both adolescents and other members of society.
This powder is dangerous because no one can and at this stage has not guaranteed its safety.
We cannot allow online trading of products that do not have a proven and researched origin. Pandora's box was opened after the public turned a blind eye to the advertising of tobacco products in the music videos of certain artists, because the advertising of such products is prohibited. It kind of went unnoticed, then vape and hookahs started being pushed on us, and I'm assuming there was some financial incentive for that to happen. If we continue to turn a blind eye as a society, to accept as normal, routine and harmless the use of various vapes, gum pastes, mouth sprays that have no clear origin, we will get to the point where we will not notice when someone he pretends to snort a drug, namely a “snort potion”. When we look for a solution to the problem, and addictions are a serious, social and health problem, it has to be comprehensive for all the things I mentioned. Otherwise, someone will play yet another pro forma reform and promise something purely politically, but we will not preserve the lives and health of children this way.