It’s spooooooky season! This time of year getting scared should be fun! But unfortunately many parents fear what their kids may get from other homes while at a play date or party. You may think about harmful items intentionally placed in candy bowls for trick-or-treaters, but today we’re talking about candy that isn’t really candy - even though Sour Crawlers, Frozen, Strawberry Mango, Kiwi Guava, and Birthday Cake all sound like flavors we see in the candy aisle.
Edibles and vapes. Yep, we are talking about edibles and vapes. Legal and “is this really legal?” products that contain nicotine, THC, hallucinogens from mushrooms, and more. Perhaps scarier are other lab-made products that haven’t been tested or seen on the market before, and they are often mixed with other new chemicals and tasty ingredients.
Kids and Vaping:
A disposal vape is like smoking a pack of cigarettes. It’s not just vapor and a fun flavor. It contains nicotine, which is an addictive drug. Plus – did you know nicotine is proven to cause harm to brain development in kids and young adults? These are legal products for adults, but they still can lead to misuse and abuse.
If you do catch your child vaping (this applies to intermediate, middle and high school students), do your research. We recommend
https://drugfree.org/drugs/vaping/. Vapes can also have THC and other harmful chemicals since vapes are not regulated. “Vape juice” can be mixed by shops and are not held to quality standards by a regulating entity.
Vape examples.
Edibles:
Well-meaning adults who decide to purchase edibles most likely don’t intend for kids to try a bite. Unfortunately, kids like candy even more than adults and they aren’t going to read serving size (dosage in this case) before trying something that looks like a treat.
Package comparison of an edible product vs one that is not.
Edibles are dangerous because you don’t notice the effects immediately and in a small person can cause serious harm. In adults they can cause (depending on the ingredients):
- Drowsiness
- Confusion and cognitive impairment
- Vomiting
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Psychotic episodes
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Tremors or shaking
- Fast heartbeat
Just because an edible is sold in a colorful package, that doesn’t mean it is safe. Before you buy, think about:
- Your “why”
- If you need to “chill out”, there are other options. If the ritual of consuming something attracts you to edibles, consider alternatives like herbal tea.
- If you are addressing an emotion like fear, sadness or anger that you’ve felt for weeks, months, or years – asking for help from a counselor or therapist is a good idea.
- Anyone who may mistake the package for candy - kids and adults.
- This may sound silly but storing it in a locked drawer or safe is best. Think back to when you were a kid – a cookie jar on top of a fridge is no match for a sweet tooth.
- The label. Check it twice and ask about any ingredients you don’t know. Just as important – check the dosage and do your research.
- Potency levels are much higher than in the 90s and 2000s, THC in marijuana was around 10%; products today, 60-95% THC.
Edible product example.
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This article is brought to you by our member Watertown Healthy Youth.