Public Warned: Highly Addictive ‘Tuklaw’ Cigarettes Pose Severe Health Risks
TUKLAW – Smuggled “tuklaw” cigarettes laced with synthetic cannabinoids have been detected in the Philippines, prompting urgent action from anti-drug agencies.
The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have jointly sounded the alarm over the circulation of a tobacco variant called “tuklaw,” warning that it poses greater risks than mar*juana.
Believed to have originated from a tobacco plant native to South America, “tuklaw” is commonly used in Vietnam, where it is referred to as “thuoc lao.” Based on laboratory examinations, the two anti-drug agencies reported that the product contains about 9% nicotine, far exceeding the 1% to 3% levels typically found in ordinary cigarettes.
The DDB, which formulates national drug policies, and the PDEA, tasked with enforcing the country’s anti-drug laws, pointed out that this elevated nicotine content alone can be harmful. More concerning, however, was the discovery of another dangerous substance in the product.
According to PDEA, laboratory analysis confirmed that tuklaw also contains a synthetic cannabinoid—an artificial chemical created to mimic the effects of mar*juana, but said to be more powerful and dangerous.
Experts caution that exposure to synthetic cannabinoids can lead to severe health problems, including psychotic episodes, hallucinations, and seizure-like reactions characterized by sudden, involuntary body jerks and twitches. Such symptoms, they warned, may put both the user and surrounding individuals at risk.
“These deadly cigarettes laced with synthetic cannabinoid are obviously smuggled goods and reportedly sold online,” PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said in a statement. He urged the public to remain alert and refrain from buying unregulated tobacco items, especially those marketed through online platforms.
Echoing the warning, DDB Chair Oscar Valenzuela stressed their ongoing mission to protect the public from harmful substances. “We will safeguard the welfare and interest of the general public against the threats and dangers of potentially addictive and harmful substances, such as synthetic cannabinoids,” he stated.
Authorities have begun tracing the sources and distributors of tuklaw, particularly sellers operating online. They are also appealing to the public to report any suspicious cigarette products to law enforcement to help stop the spread of these hazardous goods.
READ ALSO: “Tuklaw” Cigarette Sends Man Into Seizure in Taguig