To the editor:

As a practicing physician, I am writing to alert our community to the growing substance abuse concern related to “the new white powder,” powdered caffeine. 

Every parent with young or teen age children should be aware of this, especially since it’s still legal while the FDA is reviewing it, and can be purchased over the internet. It’s highly potent, and toxic in this concentrated form. 

One teaspoon of powdered caffeine is comparable to the immediate ingestion of 25 cups of coffee. It is sold as an aid for weight loss or just to get that jolt of energy people, like high school and college students, think they need to study or complete assignments. It has already killed and hospitalized users. 

A quick Google search brings up a number of sites where this drug can be purchased. Investigators from the Center for Science in the Public Interest were able to purchase amounts sufficient to kill several dozen people from these sites.

Despite the slow action of the FDA to ban, or put controls on this dangerous substance, our state legislature did take positive action last winter with Senate Bill S2056A, which recognized, “When used in high doses however, caffeine can raise the user's blood pressure, cause heartburn, dehydration and can lead to seizures, erratic heartbeats and in some cases, death.” 

The bill prohibits the sale of this substance to minors. Thankfully the bill passed quickly through the General Assembly, with overwhelming support, and the governor passed it into law on June 24 of this year. This is the kind of action we need from our elected leaders to combat substance abuse in this state, rated third in the nation for abuse issues.

Incredibly, two senators voted against the 33-vote majority and one was our District 11 Sen. (John) Pagliarini. This “no” vote makes no sense, especially given Sen. Pagliarini’s assertion that substance abuse prevention is one of his top legislative priorities. Please remember this when you vote on Nov. 8.

Carol Ryan, MD

167 Taylor Road

Portsmouth