What You Need to Know About the New ‘Tuklaw’ Cigarette Threat
TUKLAW – A new tobacco product called “tuklaw” is making waves for all the wrong reasons, with authorities warning it contains dangerously high nicotine levels and illegal additives.
The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have issued a joint warning against the spread of a tobacco product known locally as “tuklaw,” describing it as more dangerous than mar*juana.
“Tuklaw” originates from a tobacco plant linked to South America but is widely used in Vietnam under the name “thuoc lao.” According to the two anti-drug agencies, laboratory tests revealed that the product contains around 9% nicotine, significantly higher than the 1% to 3% typically found in regular cigarettes.
The DDB, which serves as the government’s policy-making body on drug-related concerns, and PDEA, the law enforcement arm in the anti-drug campaign, stressed that this high nicotine level alone already poses serious health risks. However, they also found an even more alarming substance in the product.
PDEA said its laboratory analysis detected the presence of a synthetic cannabinoid in tuklaw. This compound is chemically engineered to replicate the effects of mar*juana but is reportedly stronger and more hazardous.
Health experts warn that synthetic cannabinoids can trigger severe adverse effects, including psychotic episodes, hallucinations, and seizure-like symptoms marked by sudden, involuntary muscle jerks and twitches. These reactions, the agencies caution, could endanger both users and those around them.
“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 added that the public should remain vigilant and avoid purchasing unregulated tobacco products, particularly those offered through digital marketplaces.
DDB Chair Oscar Valenzuela echoed the concern, emphasizing their joint commitment to protecting Filipinos from addictive and 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 are now coordinating to track down the sources and suppliers of tuklaw, particularly online sellers. They also urge consumers to report suspicious cigarette products to law enforcement to help curb the spread of these hazardous substances.
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