Striking scenes of young Cubans affected by drug use, known as “El químico,” have raised alarm after going viral on social media: convulsions, desperate cries, and reckless behavior highlight the seriousness of this issue.
The official portal CubaDebate reported testimonies about the devastating impact of this substance on Cuban youth, highlighting moving accounts from those who have begun rehabilitation processes, reflecting the drama of addiction on the island.
"I arrived here after nine years of substance abuse..."
One of the testimonies, shared by a young person in rehabilitation, describes the challenging journey of battling their addiction.
"One day I overindulged, it was a small attempt at suicide. I woke up the next day; the suicide had failed, so I reflected and said, ‘I need to get out of this.’ I sought help from my family, started rehabilitation, and after six months I was discharged. It was tough, complicated. The first 21 days were very sad."
"I started using it one day at a party, influenced by friends. At first, it's not like what they tell you, mom or dad; you don't see the immediate danger. But you keep using it until you can no longer control anything; the drug takes over your mind. This is a very painful illness, filled with much sadness. People don’t understand that being an addict doesn’t mean being shameless; it’s a disease that is severely impacting Cuban society."
The young man emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help and breaking the stigma. “Many don’t ask for help because they feel ashamed. There is a very poor culture regarding drug addiction in Cuba. We need to educate more and reach out to those in need.”
"I am 18 years old and have been consuming since I was 15..."
Another young woman in rehabilitation shares her experience from a clinic where she receives treatment. “I came here with a month of abstinence, and while it has been easy for me, that's not the case for everyone. I started out hanging out with friends, but then I began using on my own. I got hooked for days. I lost many things… I lost my family. I stopped talking to my parents, and I became someone I didn't even recognize. I didn’t care about anything.”
The young woman reflects on the particularly severe consequences for women who fall into drug use. "Women have more to lose than men. Losing everything is not an exaggeration; it's our reality. I wish other young women could hear this, come to therapy, and accept themselves as addicts in order to seek a solution."
What is “El Químico”?
The consumption of "El Químico" has generated deep concern in Cuba due to its devastating effects on the physical and mental health of young people. But what is this synthetic drug, and how does it impact our society?
To clarify this phenomenon, Cubadebate interviewed Dr. Elizabeth Céspedes Lantigua, a specialist in Integral General Medicine and Psychiatry, with a master's in Addictions and the director of the Center for Adolescent Rehabilitation (CDA).
An extremely dangerous synthetic drug.
According to Dr. Céspedes, “El Químico” belongs to the group of synthetic cannabinoids, substances designed to mimic the effects of marijuana, but which are, in fact, much more potent and dangerous.
This drug is produced clandestinely and without health regulations, using low-cost toxic ingredients such as formaldehyde and veterinary anesthetics, which are sprayed onto dried herbs for subsequent use in adulterated cigarettes.
“The Chemist” can be up to a hundred times more potent than marijuana, making it a tool for immediate addiction.
The doctor explains that this substance "is produced without any respect for human life" and that, due to its illegal origin, the concentrations of its components are unpredictable, increasing the risk of poisoning and deaths from overdose.
An addiction that quickly enslaves.
The doctor describes the destructive impact of this drug on young people, who often have no understanding of its composition: “Naivety and a lack of information lead them not to pause and reflect on what they are consuming, and they quickly find themselves trapped in a state of slavery to the substance,” she asserts.
Furthermore, "El Químico" is in high demand among young people due to its low initial cost and the speed with which it produces psychoactive effects.
However, this apparent “accessibility” soon turns into a trap, as addiction increases both the quantity and frequency of consumption, causing economic and personal costs to soar.
Devastating impacts on health
The effects are immediate and devastating: in the short term, it can cause euphoria, alterations in perception, nausea, tachycardia, seizures, and loss of muscular control, among other symptoms.
In the long term, the damage is irreversible, impacting mental health with disorders such as anxiety, psychosis, and hallucinations, as well as physical health with kidney, liver, and heart failure.
In the words of the doctor, many young people who use this drug end up in deplorable conditions, physically degraded, lacking values and self-esteem, and facing a path of suffering that can culminate in death by overdose.
The role of the family in prevention
Céspedes emphasizes the importance of family in preventing drug use: "It is essential for parents to set boundaries, promote values, and be alert to warning signs."
"Allowing the consumption of cigarettes or alcohol among adolescents paves the way for experimentation with more dangerous substances such as 'El Químico'," it warns.
It also urges families to seek professional help if they suspect substance use or are facing difficulties in family dynamics: “Early detection presents an opportunity to change the course of these young people in time and prevent them from becoming part of the troubling addiction statistics,” it concludes.
He also mentioned that the Adolescent Dehabituation Center (CDA), which he leads, has been a cornerstone in the rehabilitation of young addicts.
This work, although challenging, demonstrates that with professional support, determination, and education, it is possible to reverse the damage caused by these substances.
However, the doctor emphasizes that this struggle must be embraced by society as a whole, as a collective responsibility to protect future generations from a phenomenon that cannot be ignored.
The progress of "El Químico" in Cuba exposes the regime's shortcomings in the fight against drugs.
In a recent statement, Colonel Juan Carlos Poey Guerra, head of the anti-drug department of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), provided a critical analysis of the worsening drug trafficking situation and the devastating impact of synthetic substances in Cuba.
Although he emphasized that the main impacts come from abroad, the rising consumption of synthetic cannabinoids, known as "chemicals," has highlighted the vulnerability of the domestic market.
The colonel emphasized how the distribution of these substances, often soaked in paper, presents an additional challenge due to their high addictive potential and the extreme risk of poisoning.
The ease of access, low cost, and the proliferation of fraudsters imitating these synthetic drugs have exacerbated the problem, particularly affecting young people.
As drug enforcement operations intensify in the country, the phenomenon highlights an urgent need to strengthen prevention and education strategies, amidst a regional and global context where drug trafficking, maritime routes, and the expansion of synthetic drugs continue to jeopardize public safety and health.
In recent operations in Havana, several individuals were arrested for the sale of illicit substances, including marijuana and the well-known "chemical."
According to the official Facebook profile "La Página de Mauro Torres 2.0," one of the operations took place at the intersection of 20 de Mayo and Amenidad, near the Ditú del Cerro, where a man identified as Marcelo was arrested.
In September, a total of 22 people were arrested in Havana, accused of selling the synthetic drug "in paper form," known as "el químico."
According to the state media, the seizures of this type of drug, which is very popular on the Island, took place in the Zamora - Coco Solo Council in the Marianao municipality of Havana.
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