Getting a "pumped liquid" for some "hit" is like shopping at the neighborhood grocery store. The problem is that no one knows where they will end up after a flying juice with drugs - some develop paranoia, others fall into epileptic seizures. A few days ago, a 14-year-old teenager from Pleven died, falling from the seventh floor after smoking a vape full of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC).
HHC is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid obtained through chemical processing, in which THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, is modified. In October 2023, hexahydrocannabinol was included in the Regulation on the procedure for classifying plants and substances as narcotics. This means that it is the job of the Ministry of Interior and the Directorate for the Prevention and Control of Narcotic Drugs to counteract it.
What did the Ministry of Interior do after the death of the boy from Pleven? It imitated activity, announcing an operation in which they seized a certain amount of "psychoactive substances and their analogues, adapted for vaping devices" and even innocent flavors. And nothing else. It became known, some sites that offered substances for "throws" with a taste of paradise, closed - but hardly for long. The Consumer Protection Commission, in an attempt to demonstrate protection, suddenly discovered 20 sites offering hexahydrocannabinol and handed them over to the GDBOP.
But the darknet never closes - it is bought there in bulk, and buyers find enough dealers to offer it in retail, with seductive aromas, pleasant colors and unclear composition. As of August 2024, the European Union Agency for Drugs and Drug Abuse is monitoring about 980 new psychoactive substances with increasingly complex chemical structures. In addition to vaping liquids, they are also available as nasal sprays, tablets, powders, and are found in confectionery products such as jelly candies and in cookies like those that landed six children in the Pleven University Hospital.
The dangers of "flying juices"
For Deutsche Welle, psychiatrist Dr. Ivan Dobrinov, whose expertise is in the treatment of addictions, explains some of the risks of synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids: "Each person experiences different effects, and it is especially dangerous for young people. Panic attacks, epileptic seizures, paranoid delusions, confusion, and disorientation may occur. The signs can also occur with a single attempt. And along with this, young people who have been admitted to toxicology often experience tremors, arrhythmia or tachycardia, severe headaches, liver damage and kidney problems……" The boy from Pleven, for example, felt unwell, showed anxiety and nervousness.
Dr. Dobrinov commented that, unlike marijuana, its synthetic "cousins" also cause severe aggression.
"There are a variety of new drugs on the market that young people use, which are highly convertible and cheap, since their production does not depend on specific raw materials, seasons and harvests. They have an unknown composition and unstudied consequences," warns the psychiatrist.
The Early Warning System reports in its bulletin Ν13 that new semi-synthetic cannabinoids are entering the market at a serious rate. This new group of psychoactive substances is mainly used by smoking or drinking. "Still not subject to control, their legal distribution in the form of vapes, party liquids for smoking, liquids for electronic cigarettes is relatively easy in the commercial network", the System states.
The vaping business and regulations
Young people, often students, with a "vape" in hand are increasingly seen on the streets and on public transport. Globally, the use of vapes is gaining momentum among teenagers and young people, including those who have never smoked - although some advertising presents them as a less harmful alternative to smoking (not all of them contain nicotine, however). This fast-growing business uses bright colors, "tasty" flavors, as well as social media and influencers. Aggressive marketing works and attracts more and more users, which is also helped by the lack of sufficient information about the health risks.
In a statement on the tragic case in Pleven, the "Vaping Association-Bulgaria" Association called for the illegal substances not to be associated with electronic cigarettes. "There are 63 specialized vape shops in Bulgaria, of which 36 are members of the association. These shops are easily controllable and comply with all legal requirements," the declaration states. According to the Association, it is necessary to stop online shops that sell products with prohibited substances and to buy modern traffic police breathalyzers that can detect synthetic cannabinoids and other substances.
In Bulgaria, importers and manufacturers of electronic cigarettes and liquids for them register with the Ministry of Economy and Industry, where they submit notifications 6 months before placing a product on the market. In addition to a list of ingredients, nicotine content and emissions during its use, they must also submit a declaration that they "bear full responsibility for the quality and safety of the product". According to experts, it would be good to submit detailed reports on the composition of the products to the BFSA, including the additives and flavorings used, and for the Ministry of Health to be included in control mechanisms.
More information
While institutions and society are wandering between regulations and campaigns, one thing is certain - the battle with the "flying juices" is not only a matter of control, but also of culture and awareness. The lack of systematic programs and educational campaigns to inform about the risks of new drugs, and of adequate support for vulnerable youth, leaves a generation that subjects its health and life to reckless experiments.
"Safe" pleasure can also kill, wrapped in pink smoke and a sweet aroma.
Author: Emilia Milcheva