“Magic” essential oils harm young people

Advertised widely on social networks

Finding out the reality, Hai Duong Newspaper reporters found that "Smoke players" freely use this essential oil without understanding the origin and the level of danger of this essential oil. It is not difficult to see images of young people regularly inhaling and exhaling white smoke from Vapes and Pods (electronic cigarette smoking devices) in public places. Not stopping at using conventional essential oils, many e-cigarette users also whisper to each other about a "magical" essential oil called CBD, Pod Chill.

When searching for the phrases "CBD", "Pod Chill" on Facebook, we can easily see a series of groups, from public to private. Here, CBD sales are constantly updated and exchanged. The accounts posting are all anonymous accounts, without any personal information. These account owners will attach the seller's phone number to the post. Those who want to exchange or buy and sell will contact the phone number attached to the post.

Through an acquaintance, we learned about and found the Facebook group “CBD Hai Duong”. This group regularly posts articles selling CBD essential oils with the content “Húc is numb, húc is intoxicated”, “Heavy hitters, 2-3 puffs are enough”, “Good stuff + fragrant = hallucination”, “Not high / Guaranteed to turn around / return and refund”, “ship to Hai Phong and Hai Duong 24/24”…

The above advertisements have attracted a lot of attention, comments and offers to buy, especially from young people in their 20s. Exchanging messages, an account owner selling CDB essential oils said he was from Hai Duong. The price of a bottle of essential oil from 5-50 ml ranges from 199,000 VND to 1.8 million VND, depending on the volume and mixing ratio. To "attract customers", the seller also offers a promotion of buying 15 ml and getting 5 ml free for the first time. When we pretended to want to buy in large quantities, the account owner said he would give a deep discount.

Some Facebook account holders also posted recruitment for collaborators on a private Facebook group. To learn more about this activity, we posed as someone who wanted to collaborate to get CBD essential oil to sell in the district. Without any doubt, the source was ready to respond enthusiastically after receiving the message. According to some of these essential oil traders, the goods are often imported from large provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, etc. The goods are taken at night for easier transportation as well as to avoid the authorities. Some sources said that this item was distributed through some agents in Hai Duong, and also instructed how to divide the essential oil to sell at high profits.

Use freely

On March 18, arriving at a club in a district in the province at 10 p.m., we saw a few dozen young people there. Many couples sat together in groups. Sitting next to my table was a group of young people, holding bottles of essential oil in their hands, pumping it into an electronic cigarette device, then inhaling and then exhaling.

When we asked, a young man named NHM in the group, from Tu Ky district, shared that he was using CBD essential oil. "Just about three seconds after smoking it, I started to feel lightheaded, dizzy, and unaware. This state lasted for 20 minutes before I woke up. Those with weak constitutions would faint after just one puff," M. said with a sophisticated look. Observing after 2 seconds of use, a young man in the group's eyes were hazy, his head swaying to the music.

M. said he learned about this essential oil through a friend's recommendation and then became accustomed to using it. When asked about its origin, M. did not know anything, just bought it because it was "delicious, fragrant, and cheap". According to M., not only CBD essential oil, but young people are whispering to each other about an essential oil called Pod Chill that brings endless ecstasy and a feeling of excitement to users.

From M.'s introduction, we contacted a phone number of a seller named NH in Hai Duong to get more information about this chemical. This essential oil is considered to have been mixed with additional ingredients, divided by ml. The core essential oil is the heaviest, used to mix lighter types, divided into levels that the industry calls X1, X2, X3. Regarding the form of delivery, the product will be packaged like normal delivery products but a deposit must be paid in advance, and express delivery is even possible if the customer has a need.

A part of young people in Hai Duong seek out “magic” essential oils due to the psychology of imitation, listening to friends and many also seek them out as a solution to help reduce stress. Therefore, many groups of young people invite each other to use them in bars, clubs or secretly organized parties.

Stylish smoke, million worries

Faced with the use of essential oils suspected of containing banned substances in the province, authorities have increased inspection, detection and handling of violations.

Recently, the police force in the province has discovered and arrested many criminals and law violators related to synthetic drugs.

In January 2024, the Investigation Police Agency of Ninh Giang District Police prosecuted the accused Dam Viet Quang (born in 2002, residing in Quarter 1/5, Vinh Bao Town, Hai Phong City) for the crime of illegal drug trafficking. Previously, Ninh Giang District Police discovered a subject selling e-cigarette essential oil suspected of containing drugs to students at many high schools and vocational education - continuing education centers in the area. On December 25, 2023, in Cong Sao area, residential area No. 3, Ninh Giang Town, Ninh Giang District Police discovered Pham Van L. (born in 2008, in Ha Ky Commune, Tu Ky) selling 2 bottles of e-cigarette essential oil suspected of containing drugs to a high school student in the area. Working with the police agency, L. confessed to buying e-cigarette essential oil from Dam Viet Quang. Searching Quang’s residence, the police discovered and seized 73.42 grams of dried plant fibers containing the drug MDMB-4en-PINACA with a concentration of 0.87%, along with several bottles of essential oil suspected of containing synthetic drugs. Quang confessed that the purpose of storing the drugs was to sell for profit.

The authorities also discovered a case of containing essential oils and electronic cigarette kits of unknown origin. At 10:20 a.m. on December 27, 2023, at the boarding house of Pham Van Tam (born in 1993, in Thong Nhat commune, Gia Loc district) in Mieu Lang village, Dong Lac commune, Nam Sach district, Nam Sach district police discovered a quantity of goods including 45 plastic cans containing solution (liquid form, each can contains from 20 to 30 liters) equivalent to nearly 1,000 liters and 363 electronic cigarette kits without invoices or documents proving their origin. As a result, the appraisal of the liquid solution in the plastic cans and electronic cigarette kits did not find any narcotic ingredients; the value of 363 electronic cigarettes was over 36 million VND.

According to a police officer, CBD and Pod Chill are actually brand names, if they were normal essential oils, they would not be included in the banned list. However, some people take advantage of this to mix in more drugs so that users can "absorb them more deeply" to help them sell more and make a profit, despite the fact that this is harmful to users. Using essential oils containing cannabis at high frequency will greatly affect the body, especially the nervous system. If inhaled a lot, it will cause vomiting, metabolic disorders, and even create a feeling of virtual euphoria, very similar to the feeling of being high on drugs. Using a lot can cause addiction.

On April 12, 2023, Bai Chay Hospital (Quang Ninh) admitted 4 students (all 15 years old), who were hospitalized in a state of fatigue, discomfort, and weak limbs. 1 hour before being hospitalized, these 4 students used e-cigarette essential oils.

Recently, drug crimes have been quite complicated with sophisticated methods, hiding in the form of cigarettes and food. For e-cigarette essential oils such as CBD, Pod Chill, it is necessary to bring them for testing to confirm whether they contain drugs or not. E-cigarette essential oils mixed with drugs are often exchanged in closed groups on social networks, delivered by express delivery... making it difficult for authorities to detect and handle.