VoodooAn attractive brand name for a dangerous chemical

12What is Voodoo?

Voodoo is a name that appeared on Egyptian streets after Strox spread, and it is applied to small bags of chopped dried herbs. The herbs themselves do not cause the effect. What does is the manufactured chemicals sprayed on them, which belong to a huge family known scientifically as synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists.

In other words, Voodoo is an informal trademark more than a separate "type" of drug. A person who buys "Voodoo" does not know which chemical compound they are getting, at what concentration, or whether it has been mixed with something else.

That is why doctors treat Voodoo and Strox as two faces of one problem, synthetic cannabis, and use the same plan for diagnosis and treatment.

13Voodoo is a name, not a substance: why does the difference matter?

When people hear a fixed name, they assume there is a fixed product behind it, as with medicines and foods. But in the synthetic drug market the opposite happens:

The United Nations early warning system has identified more than 320 different synthetic cannabinoid compounds since 2009, with new chemical groups appearing every so often. Any of them may be sold under the name "Voodoo".

14What does Voodoo look like?

Voodoo usually comes in small bags containing chopped dried herbs, pale green or brown, similar in appearance to bango or to the leaves used in shisha tobacco. The bags may be colorful with a name or picture printed on them, or they may be plain bags with no markings. Fragrances are often added to mask the chemical smell.

You cannot tell from the look, smell or color which compound it contains or how strong it is. Two bags that look identical can be completely different in content and potency.

15How is Voodoo marketed? "Herbs", "incense" and "not drugs"

Since synthetic cannabis appeared worldwide, its sellers have relied on linguistic trickery to make the product look innocent. The European Union Drugs Agency describes how these blends were sold as "herbal smoking blends" or "incense and room fresheners", with the phrase "not for human consumption" on the packaging to evade the law.

• "Natural" and "herbs": because it looks like a plant, while the active ingredient is entirely chemical.
• "Legal" or "not drugs": this is false advertising, since synthetic cannabinoids are banned in Egypt.
• "Incense" or "air freshener": a cover for trading that has nothing to do with how it is actually used.
• Colorful packaging and mysterious names: they suggest a safe recreational product, and attract teenagers in particular.

16Voodoo and bango: why do people confuse them?

Voodoo looks like dried bango leaves and is rolled and smoked in a similar way, so many people assume it is "strong bango" or "improved bango". But the difference between them lies in the substance, not the appearance:

This confusion is dangerous, because someone used to bango may treat Voodoo with the same confidence and be surprised by a far stronger effect. That does not mean bango is safe, as it has its own well-known psychological and addictive harms.

17How does Voodoo affect the brain?

The brain has receptors called cannabinoid receptors, which help regulate mood, memory, sleep, appetite and movement. THC in bango activates them partially, while the compounds in Voodoo activate them fully and bind more strongly. Beyond the "stronger high", many systems are disrupted at the same time:

• Disturbed perception: confusion, a distorted sense of time, and sometimes hallucinations.
• Disturbed mood: a brief calm that can suddenly turn into panic or anger.
• Strain on the heart: a sudden rise in pulse and blood pressure.
• Nervous system irritation: it may make seizures more likely.

18Voodoo and Strox: is there a real difference?

Many people ask which one is "milder". The honest answer is that they cannot be ranked, since both are brand names for the same family of substances, and the difference between one bag and another under the same name may be greater than the difference between the two names. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that two containers that look identical may hold different substances of different strength.

Instead of asking "which is milder?", ask "do I know what is in this bag?" The answer is always no.

19Common myths about Voodoo

20The legal status of Voodoo in Egypt

Voodoo is banned in Egypt. Synthetic cannabinoids have been added to the drug schedules attached to Law No. 182 of 1960, and the schedules are updated by later decrees to cover new compounds. There is no truth to the claim that it is "legal" or "not a drug".

Free, confidential treatment can be requested through the hotline of the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction, 16023, or through specialized centers.

This is general educational information and not legal advice.

21Voodoo guide: everything you need to know

We have gathered everything about Voodoo into 5 pages, each answering one question in detail. Choose what you are looking for:

22How do you talk to your son about Voodoo?

Many young people defend Voodoo with phrases like "it's herbs" or "it's not even hashish". Arguing over the name rarely works. It is better to turn the conversation into questions:

1. Ask him calmly: "Do you know what substance is in the bag? Who made it?"
2. Share one reliable fact instead of a long lecture, such as the fact that the same bag can differ from one time to the next.
3. Focus on his safety: the danger signs, and when to call an ambulance if he or a friend becomes unwell.
4. Do not let fear of punishment stop him from asking for help in a moment of danger.
5. If you notice signs of repeated use, ask for specialist family counseling.

You will find the signs a family may notice on the page about signs of Voodoo addiction.