The Health Ministry issued a warning Monday against using e-cigarettes containing the dangerous synthetic local drug known as "Nice Guy," after the substance was identified in a vape liquid sold under the brand "The Bulldog."
The warning comes after two teens, ages 15 and 16, were recently hospitalized at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, suffering from hallucinations, seizures, confusion and stuttering following use of the product. Both were discharged in good condition after observation.
The illegal vape liquid is being sold at kiosks, online and via social media. Lab tests found the substance ADB-BUTINACA, a potent synthetic cannabinoid from the "Nice Guy" drug family. This lab-made drug is known to be highly addictive and dangerous.
Synthetic cannabinoids have caused multiple deaths and hospitalizations across Israel in recent years. Side effects can be severe and include psychosis, hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks, internal bleeding, brain swelling, kidney damage and heart issues.
Health Ministry data show a sharp rise in e-cigarette use among youth in Israel, contributing to increased cigarette smoking overall. The ministry is advancing new measures to curb the use of e-cigarettes and reduce smoking nationwide.
Dr. Roni Berkowitz, head of enforcement at the Health Ministry, emphasized, “Head shop drugs are extremely dangerous and can be fatal, especially when disguised in ways that prevent consumers from knowing they’re taking a dangerous substance.”
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Dr. Yael Luria, director of the Israel Poison Information Center at Rambam, stressed that synthetic cannabinoids differ significantly from natural cannabis. “These drugs are produced in illicit labs and usually appear in smokable leaf form, but are now also found in vape liquids,” she said. “They are undetectable in standard urine or blood tests, requiring deeper analysis.”
In the cases treated at Rambam, the e-cigarettes were sent to a laboratory, where synthetic street drugs were detected. Some of the products were falsely labeled as containing THC—the active ingredient in cannabis—but included other dangerous substances.
Common side effects of synthetic cannabinoids include agitation, nausea, and irregular heartbeat. More severe complications can include addiction, psychotic episodes, hallucinations, seizures, heart attacks, brain damage, kidney failure and even death.
Dr. Luria urged the public to be alert: “It’s important to recognize the risk of street drugs being used in this way. These substances are sold online, on social media, and in convenience stores, often under misleading labels. Some are highly addictive and can lead to serious health consequences.”