Betel nut sweets present growing health threat to children

Urgent legislative action is needed to protect minors Areca nut, also known as betel nut, is the fibrous seed of the Areca catechu palm and has been consumed throughout the Asia-Pacific for thousands of years.1 The nut is chewed and placed in the buccal cavity, where psychoactive agents are absorbed trans-mucosally. Users experience a mild psychostimulant effect from arecoline, a muscarinic receptor agonist that induces alertness, body warmth, and, for some, a slight euphoria. Chewing customs vary by region, with many preferring to wrap the nut in a plant leaf along with tobacco and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) to increase its potency. Betel nut use is prevalent in populous Asian countries such as China and India, as well as remote island nations scattered throughout Micronesia and Melanesia. As a result of population migration, it is increasingly available worldwide, including in metropolitan areas throughout Europe and North America. Globally, betel nut consumption is most common among marginalised communities, many of which have limited access to higher education.1 The assortment of betel nut products …