MARIIN ang naging babala ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) sa publiko hinggil sa paglaganap ng “Thuoc Lao”, locally known as “Tuklaw” cigarettes, sa mga lansangan.

Ayon kay PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez, nagpalabas siya ng warning sa sigarilyong sinasabing nagsimula sa Vietnam, matapos ang isinagawang laboratory analysis ng PDEA, na tumutukoy sa mataas na presensiya ng nicotine at synthetic cannabinoid na idinisenyo para gayahin ang epekto ng marijuana subalit lubhang malakas at peligroso.

“When used, “Tuklaw” smokers may experience psychotic episodes and hallucinations,” ani USEC Nerez.

Ang sigarilyo na naglalaman ng tabako – tradisyonal na pinausukan at kilala sa Vietnam bilang “Thuoc Lao” – ay may siyam na porsyentong nicotine content, ayon sa PDEA at DDB.

Ang produkto ay may tatlong beses na mas maraming nicotine content kaysa mga normal na sigarilyo, ayon sa dalawang anti-drug na ahensiya.

Sinabi pa ng PDEA, ang “tuklaw” ay maaaring magdulot ng mga psychotic episode at hallucinations pati na rin ang “seizure-like symptoms characterized by brief, shock-like body jerks and twitches.”

“These deadly cigarettes laced with synthetic cannabinoid are obviously smuggled goods and reportedly sold online,” ayon sa ibinahaging impormasyon ni PDEA Public Information Office chief, Director Laurefel P. Gabales.

Nabatid na planong ideklara ng PDEA at DDB na dangerous illegal drug ang “Thouc Lao o Tuklaw”. “Both agencies will likewise engage with concerned sectors, public health experts, and relevant government agencies… to ensure that any resulting policy measure is comprehensive, balanced, and implementable,” saad ni DDB Chairperson Oscar Valenzuela.

“The ultimate intention is to safeguard the welfare and interest of the general public against the threats and dangers of potentially addictive and harmful substances, such as synthetic cannabinoids,” dagdag niya.

(JESSE RUIZ)