For as long as people have been using drugs, there are those who will try absolutely anything at the merest suggestion that it might get you high. From smoking banana peels to snorting nutmeg, there is no shortage of crazy ideas. The latest fad is inhaling powdered chocolate, but could that actually get you high? The answer is, not really.
What’s actually being sold is raw cacao – available on store shelves as a product called Coco Loko. Raw cacao is not the same thing as cocoa powder. When it’s turned into cocoa, the cacao bean is roasted and its molecular structure changes. Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing un-roasted cacao beans, which keeps more enzymes alive and lowers the fat content. Proponents of raw cacao as a health supplement claim that it can lower insulin resistance, protect the nervous system, prevent nerve damage, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, lower blood pressure, repair damage caused by free radicals (because of its high antioxidant content), and improve your mood.
Whether or not raw cacao is really a superfood, which is a matter of some debate, it’s certainly not meant to be snorted. In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on Coco Loko. For one thing, they pointed out, it’s not safe to snort any powder, no matter the substance. Doing so can cause vocal cord spasms, making it hard for the user to speak or breathe, tightening of lung muscles, and breathing problems for people with asthma. The ingredients – besides the cacao – are also of dubious safety. The powder contains taurine, a type of amino acid that is frequently used in energy drinks, and guarana, a plant with a large amount of caffeine that is both sold as a supplement and added to energy drinks. No research has been done on whether taurine or guarana are safe to snort. Also, it’s possible that the high people report feeling from cacao is actually an energy rush as a result of these two ingredients.
The FDA was also concerned that Coco Loko was being marketed as an alternative to street drugs by claiming to mimic the effects of getting high. The powder purports to improve moods, reduce anxiety, and give you a burst of energy. By selling such products in stores without warning labels, the FDA said that the manufacturers (Legal Lean, an Orlando-based supplement company) were encouraging drug abuse, particularly in minors. The product’s website even claimed that it was “great for party goers to dance the night away without a crash.” None of these claims have been verified. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who encouraged the FDA to investigate Coco Loko, called it an over-the-counter stimulant with no clear health benefits.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
