HHC is the cannabinoid hexahydrocannabinol obtained from hemp, which, unlike the closely related “marijuana” THC, is not an illegal substance in our country. It can be part of various products as a dietary supplement; indeed including sweets. It is available in many places: not only on the Internet and in stores specializing in similar products, but also in some convenience stores – and even in vending machines. However, those who do not want these goods do not have to worry regarding buying them by mistake. It certainly doesn’t lie on every corner. And most importantly: they are distinguished from similar products not only by a striking label, but also by a significantly higher price.
However, this does not deter children from shopping. Well, at least not in Karlovy Vary. At least this is indicated by the findings from the local hospital. During January, eight children and adolescents ended up needing medical attention in her or other hospitals in the region following consuming candies in the form of “gummy bears” or something else with the inscription HHC on the packaging. It’s not just student-age patients; there were more elementary school students. The local police are already examining the situation, said police spokeswoman Zuzana Churaňová.
However, the Karlovy Vary Regional Hospital also records health problems following consumption of HHC in adults. According to hospital spokeswoman Markéta Singerová, “countless” of them were hospitalized. “Many of them even had to be taken to the hospital by the emergency services,” stated the spokeswoman.
The complications of those who try new experiences and possibly even “how long they last” can be different. The effects are very individual and depend both on the dosage (which, for example, is difficult to estimate in the case of candy bears, said to be the most common problem product with HHC), and on the form of use – but also on the organism’s resistance. However, the Karlovy Vary Hospital stated on Facebook: “After ingestion, intoxicated patients experience disturbances of consciousness that can last 24-48 hours, mood swings, aggression or nausea.” Doctors cannot yet say whether there might be a risk of permanent damage to some organs.
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However, the regional hospital in Mladá Boleslav has different experiences, its spokeswoman Hana Kopalová told Deník. “We don’t see this problem,” she summed up the situation. The children’s department of Klaudián’s hospital has not met a patient following ingestion of HHC this year – and last year it was only in one case. However, Kopalová refused to provide any details. “Given the fact that it was a child patient, i.e. younger than 18 years old, I cannot be more specific,” she stated.
Kopalová also referred Deník to the emergency services. “It is possible that the paramedics take these patients directly to a higher workplace, so they don’t even get to us,” she noted. But that is not the case, according to the words of Mark Hylebrant from the headquarters of the Medical Rescue Service of the Central Bohemian Region. According to him, the effects of HHC are not a problem that Central Bohemian rescuers would encounter more often.
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“At least as far as we know,” Hylebrant elaborated. He admits that if the patient or those around him do not say that his difficulties arose following taking HHC, the paramedics have no way of finding out. “The manifestations can be different – and we do not have any detection devices that would draw attention to the influence of this substance,” said Hylebrant. He reminded that this can possibly only be discovered in the hospital on an internal basis. So he refers to hospital information for a change.
However, it seems that HHC in central Bohemia does not bring such complications as the consequences of consuming a drug legal from the age of 18, generally accepted and available in practically every grocery store and several other stores of a different type. Yes, we are talking regarding cases of alcohol intoxication. However, people usually don’t think too much regarding drunkenness – and they often have a tendency to view it more leniently, even in the case of child consumers. Already because some people themselves have such an experience from their youth, while they don’t think that it would affect them in any way. This tolerance to alcohol is also confirmed by addiction experts.