Health practitioners have defended the Jamaica Observer’s publication of a reckless trend among young people who mix medication containing diphenhydramine with white rum, icy mint candy, and clear carbonated soda to make a high-inducing drink.

Pharmacists Kevar Bennett and Mischa Christie, who in the August 14 story both warned against making the drink and pointed to its dangers, were responding to people who criticised the newspaper for publishing the information.

The critics, some of them on social media, had wrongly accused the Sunday Observer of publishing what they said was “a recipe”.

Bennett, who is the secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica, was reported in the story as saying that there has been an increase in demand for cough mixtures and other agents that contain precursor chemicals and warned that the frequent use of diphenhydramine could lead to a dependence on the medication, in a similar fashion as people hooked on opioids.

Responding to the critics, Bennett told the Observer last week he was not surprised that some Jamaicans reacted the way they did.

“It goes to show that there is a serious issue with the knowledge gap that surrounds dangerous drugs and their illicit use. Jamaicans are known to adapt a copy culture of everything that they see the Americans do. They would have known about the concoction of diphenhydramine, icy mint, et cetera, and its use in making them high, especially partygoers,” Bennett said.

“We are not giving out any recipe. It is already in the know. What we are steering towards is the awareness of its use, and the dangers — For example, comas, seizures, and death that can be derived from illicit use,” he added.

In 2019 there were 52 calls to the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) helpline, which is primarily for individuals who are either struggling with substance abuse or who wish to seek help for addicts. By 2020, calls spiralled to 361.

Against those statistics, Bennett lamented that it is absolutely necessary to bring this issue to the attention of the Jamaican people, especially those who are possibly being influenced to try the concoction.

“We are sensitising the public, especially the younger generation of partygoers, that they will be exposed to party drugs like Molly, and diphenhydramine concoctions that can cause mood-altering effects. They should be aware that when these harmful substances go into the body they can cause death. Some persons may end up in hospital, others on the streets, and some may never make it.”

Christie, who practices at Sunshine Pharmacy in May Pen, Clarendon, told the Observer that if individuals overlook the health effects that are listed and choose to try a harmful substance they are basically engaging in self-sabotage.

“I do think so, whether it is intended or not. The same could be said about articles about named illicit drugs. If you go ahead and use them after the dangerous effects are listed, then it becomes your responsibility,” he stated.

Christie said officials should get more involved in public sensitisation, because it is a necessary aspect of being a health professional.

“It’s our job to play a role in that. Because if they [youngsters] don’t get it from credible sources — us — then they end up hearing myths and untruths from wherever they can get misinformation. I’m in support 100 per cent with informing the public of dangerous trends. It’s constantly what I try to do through social media and other online platforms. I think education empowers people to make safe decisions rather than experiment to find out,” he said.

Christie added that giving a warning without listing the substances being warned against would be a failed attempt.

“To be honest, I tend to steer clear of giving exact names and recipes. But in the context of warning, it can offer benefit to do so, which is what people may not understand. So, say in the event they see someone with the ingredients together, they can pick up what the intentions are and share what they learnt about that specific concoction,” he told the Observer.