A Cuban man involved in the illegal drug trade in Zone 4 of Alamar, located in the municipality of Habana del Este, has been apprehended in a recent police operation, as reported by the pro-government social media profile, La Página de Mauro Torres. According to local residents, law enforcement and agents from the Technical Investigations Department (DTI) stormed the individual's residence at building A 28, apartment 4.
The authorities seized from the suspect, known as "Brisnar," the synthetic cannabinoid referred to as "the chemical," a substance whose use is increasingly popular, particularly among Cuban youth. The same source revealed that the detainee was "responsible for the poisoning of an individual due to the consumption of this substance."
No further details about the circumstances of the drug dealer's arrest were provided by the official source. Earlier this week, a young man's death in Havana made headlines after he fell from a rooftop while under the influence of "the chemical," a drug unfortunately consumed by a growing number of young people on the island. The deceased was from the Santos Suárez neighborhood, in the Diez de Octubre municipality of Havana.
The Rising Threat of "The Chemical"
In recent months, shocking scenes of Cuban youth under the influence of "the chemical" have sparked alarm after going viral on social media. These images often depict them in convulsions, screaming, with loss of motor skills, and engaging in reckless behavior.
"The chemical" belongs to the class of synthetic cannabinoids, which are substances designed to mimic the effects of marijuana but are significantly more potent and hazardous. This drug is manufactured clandestinely without health regulations, using inexpensive toxic ingredients like formaldehyde and veterinary anesthetics, which are sprayed onto dried herbs for consumption in adulterated cigarettes.
It can be up to a hundred times more potent than marijuana, making it an instantly addictive weapon. The drug's low initial cost and rapid psychoactive effects make it highly sought after by young people. Immediate impacts include euphoria, perceptual disturbances, nausea, rapid heartbeat, seizures, and loss of muscular control, among other symptoms. Long-term effects are irreversible, impacting mental health with disorders such as anxiety, psychosis, and hallucinations, as well as physical health with kidney, liver, and heart failure.
Urgent Need for Prevention and Education
In recent days, Dr. Elizabeth Céspedes Lantigua, a specialist in Integral General Medicine and Psychiatry, and director of the Center for Adolescent Dehabituation (CDA), highlighted the destructive impact of this drug on young people in statements to Cubadebate. Many users are completely unaware of its composition.
"Naivety and lack of information prevent them from considering what they are consuming, quickly trapping them in a state of enslavement to the substance," she stated. According to Dr. Céspedes Lantigua, numerous young users end up in deplorable conditions, physically deteriorated, lacking values and self-esteem, and facing a path of suffering that can result in death by overdose.
The ease of access, low cost, and the proliferation of scammers imitating these synthetic drugs have worsened the problem, particularly affecting young individuals. While anti-drug operations intensify in the country, this phenomenon underscores an urgent need to enhance prevention and educational strategies in a regional and global context where drug trafficking, maritime routes, and the spread of synthetic drugs continue to challenge public safety and health.
In September, authorities detained 22 individuals in Havana accused of selling "the chemical."
Understanding the Impact of "The Chemical" in Cuba
What is "the chemical" and why is it dangerous?
"The chemical" is a synthetic cannabinoid designed to mimic marijuana but is much more potent and dangerous. It is clandestinely produced with toxic ingredients, making it highly unpredictable and harmful.
What are the short-term and long-term effects of "the chemical"?
Short-term effects include euphoria, altered perception, nausea, rapid heartbeat, seizures, and loss of muscular control. Long-term use can lead to irreversible mental health issues like anxiety and psychosis, and physical damage such as kidney, liver, and heart failure.