MANILA, Philippines – Nagbabala ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at ang Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) sa publiko laban sa mga kamakailang kumakalat na sigarilyo na kilala bilang “tuklaw,” na nagsasabing “mas potent” ang produkto kaysa marijuana.
Ang sigarilyo ay naglalaman ng tabako – tradisyonal na pinausukan at kilala sa Vietnam bilang “thuoc lao” – na naglalaman ng siyam na porsyentong nicotine content, ayon sa PDEA at DDB sa pinagsamang pahayag nitong Biyernes.
Ang produkto ay may tatlong beses na mas maraming nicotine content kaysa sa mga normal na sigarilyo, ayon sa dalawang ahensya ng anti-drug.
Sinabi ng PDEA na ang mga natuklasan sa laboratoryo nito ay “[indicate] the presence of nicotine and synthetic cannabinoid designed to mimic the effects of marijuana but more potent and dangerous.”
Binigyang-diin ng dalawang ahensya na 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 kay PDEA Director-General Isagani Nerez.
“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. RNT/MND
