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"Mom, I'm drunk on gel." A disturbing new trend among teenagers
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A new phenomenon that is rapidly spreading among minors in the United States is causing great concern, writes a correspondent for the newspaper La Stampa.
"Teenagers are adding hand sanitizer to drinks to make them highly alcoholic, or even drinking it neat after thorough cleaning, strictly following simple instructions that are easy to find online," the publication writes.
"The latest overseas fad that has spread among teenagers looking to get high has nothing to do with drugs: it's a harmless hand cleanser that's easy to find in public places. It's available at dispensaries, and it's completely free," the author of the article writes.
"There's no question that this is something very dangerous," says Cyrus Rangen, director of toxicology at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
"Even the smallest ones are exposed to danger: they have uncontrolled access to the cleaning gel, they can swallow it involuntarily," the author of the article writes. "The gel consists of 60-70% ethyl alcohol. Many teenagers at this difficult age stage are ready to swallow anything, just to feel euphoria and get high. Advice to parents: buy detergents in the form of foam: they are difficult to swallow, and they cannot be distilled."