Middle Schoolers 'Smoke' Smarties Candy

Middle Schoolers 'Smoke' Smarties Candy
March 23, 2009

News Summary

Middle-school students have found a new use for Smarties candy -- "smoking" them.

The Wall Street Journal reported March 20 that students are crushing the sugary candy discs into a powder, tearing off one end of the cellophane wrapper, pouring the powder into their mouths, and then blowing the dust out of their mouths and nose.

Adults worry about the health ramifications associated with such behavior, but they are also concerned that it may lead to kids smoking cigarettes or marijuana.

"It's kind of like eating the candy, but a different way to eat the candy," said 14-year-old Titus Williams, who insists he will never smoke cigarettes. Titus created an "instructional" YouTube video on how to smoke the candy.

Students at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School in Alabama are no longer allowed to carry Smarties while in school, after school administrators caught wind of the trend last year. "I have made it clear to our students that possession of Smarties (or similar candy) will result in a Class II offense," which usually means detention, said principal Phyllis Faus. She called 'smoking' Smarties "hazardous to your son or daughter's health."

Mark Shikowitz, an ear, nose and throat doctor at Schneider Children's Hospital said that while Smarties may irritate throats and noses -- and lungs if inhaled -- the candies are not life-threatening because they will dissolve. "I still don't think it's a great idea," he warned.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Katrin Reichhold on 24 Mar 09 08:13 AM EDT

I don't think it's a good idea either. More so, this behavior should not be tolerated in a school. Even if not dangerous, the act is offensive and does not need to be spread to other students. kids that age don't mind having limits set on them, and I don't think it should be up to them to make the rules.

Posted by Dwayne Polidori on 24 Mar 09 08:25 AM EDT

why not let them make the rules parent cant make the rules that has been taken away by our government plus parents are to soft nowadays

Posted by Phil on 24 Mar 09 08:55 AM EDT

While this may not be the best thing for kids to do, I'm worried that the punitive approach is even more unhealthy. It seems to illustrate why the United States, the leader of the free world, incarcerates a greater percentage of it's people than any other nation in the world. Detention for carrying candy?...No wonder people question the thinking of our educators!

Posted by Robbie P. on 24 Mar 09 09:33 AM EDT

here we go again! Why don't we look at educating the kids on the effects of doing this instead of creating a bigger problem by telling them how much trouble they can get into for doing it. Prevention by education seems to be a problem through-out our society! Interventions spark a wider interest for the kids to find out if this is true.Wake up people!!

Posted by Preventionist on 24 Mar 09 10:47 AM EDT

We use to get detention for chewing gum.. so what's the big deal with the rule? As for "drug related behavior" I think we are starting to see ghosts around every corner. These are kids.. kids do stupid things that don't necessarily mean anything.

Posted by Jeff on 24 Mar 09 10:52 AM EDT

I agree Phil. Far too often we focus on punitive approaches to societal problems. Personally I believe there are those of us who feel better about themselves if they can tell others what to do. It's all about our personal environmental control. If someone doesn't do as we think they should, well then, let's make them.

Posted by Michelle on 24 Mar 09 01:35 PM EDT

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. Kids will inevitably find a way to take something and do something lacking in common sense with it. We need to realize they need guidance and sometimes they have to suffer the natural consequences for their behavior (ie. an irritated nose and throat). We cannot regulate every decision nor should we sometimes we need to pick our battles. If there are parents that do not want their children to have smarties then let them enforce their rule it is not up to me to tell you how to raise your child especially with something as inane as this.

Posted by Catherine on 24 Mar 09 02:40 PM EDT

I agree with Phil et al in that it seems a bit excessive. I remember as a kid being very curious about smoking and figuring out ways to pretend I had a cigarette, loving candy cigarettes. I think it's a phase a child goes through trying to be grown up. Better to educate on the dangers of smoking. Maybe pretending with candy is better than picking up the real thing.

Posted by Rob H. on 24 Mar 09 02:51 PM EDT

Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. Seriously. Mash up some smarties and blow the dust out of your nose. I'll wait. (tick tock..) Okay, then, Stings, doesn't it? Tastes like crap, doesn't it? Why would anyone do this a second time? It's like being the kid in school who eats bugs on a dare. Are we going to send kids to detention for eating bugs? For making or taking dares? A principal responded to a shrill complaint from one parent..there's nothing more to this story. WSJ? Slow news day. We can spend our prevention efforts in much more productive ways.

Posted by Natalie on 24 Mar 09 04:08 PM EDT

Wait, I blew smoke around my candy sticks, and out of my candy cigarettes...I didn't smoke... We did 'sissy' tests by rubbing erasers on our arms til we rubbed off the skin.... we fought and made up on the play ground, we even called each other names. Was is all smart no...but it is a part of growing up and setting limits...smoking candy isn't the same as cigarettes, it won't kill you. (Well the sugar might). Can our kids learn anything without our interference on how to behave. If we don't start letting them have responsibility for making choices with their peers on the safe stuff, how will they learn how to handle the big stuff? If they take the dare and try it, hate it, they won't do it again, and maybe, just maybe they will figure out that saying no is smarter than taking the dare so when a cigarette is offered by the same kid they can turn it down. "Remember the last time you wanted me to smoke something? It was a disaster. I think I will pass on this one"

Posted by carolyn on 24 Mar 09 06:37 PM EDT

I have to agree the school administrators overreacted here. My guess is that this "smoking" of candy phenomenon is just a fad and kids will give it up when the novelty wears off. Not that snorting candy is glamorous by any means but at least it's not cocaine or airplane glue. The school officials should be focusing on the real drug problems.

Posted by Debby on 30 Mar 09 09:12 AM EDT

Smarties are candy,and are not shaped like cigarettes, (like the cigarette candy that I grew up with) My mother's generation all began smoking in their early teens, my generation 50's began to learn about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke. Holding smarties is no sooner going to lead to smoking than playing cowboy and Indian with guns and Tomahawks led my generation to shoot each other or scalp each other.

Posted by Profbam on 30 Mar 09 10:18 AM EDT

Good night, we are going to put kids in detention because they blow dust out their noses!!?? The Supreme Court just heard a case of a middle school girl who suffered a humiliating strip search because of a rumor that she had a couple of Rx strength ibuprofen tablets. What do our children learn when supposedly educated responsible adults behave in such ignorant and deplorable manners?? As a child, I liked the fake cigarette candy. But, I have never smoked a cigarette. If they believe that blow candy powder out their noses will lead to smoking tobacco or marijuana, there is a bridge here over the Tar River that I would be glad to sell to them.

Posted by JIll on 30 Mar 09 10:18 AM EDT

Seriously!!! I "smoked" stick pretzels as a kid and my first job was with the Lung Assn!! Good thing they didn't ban pretzels in my lunch box! Banning smarties from schools just cause kids are being kids??? Things like this make a big joke out of prevention efforts, and hurt the credibility of the effective prevention environmental strategies we are trying in implement schools and communities!

Posted by Bernard on 30 Mar 09 01:37 PM EDT

Risk is the watch word. Young people may respond appropriately, understanding risk factors attached to behavior they choose. Our job is to present information that has depth and weight.Better understanding of the change process may help young people evaluate there own behavior, as the behavior relates to them and others.

Posted by Richard Joslin on 30 Mar 09 05:23 PM EDT

Today I discovered at 7-11, the "Butterfinger Buzz," a candy bar with 80 mg. of caffeine,'more caffeine thanthe leading energy drink," according to the manufacturer. This makes smoking smarties lokk like eating candy.

Posted by Rich on 31 Mar 09 08:32 AM EDT

Please can we focus on something important in this country instead of having knee jerk reactions to every situation we can't predict or control. How about actually focusing on better education in our class rooms or obesity in our children who are fed a steady diet of junk and who most likely start dropping died by the time their 50 years old.

Posted by Lori on 01 Apr 09 04:36 PM EDT

Wow! All the people in the world who think it's alrlight to let our kids decide what is alright. Look around and see that our nation is falling apart because we are allowing them to choose for themselves. We need to explain to out children what is good and bad. Yes they will make bad choices, but we don't need to look the other way. We need to guide them to make good decisions. The bible say's spare the rod spoil the child. I guess we like spoiled children

Posted by Rob H. again... on 03 Apr 09 06:14 PM EDT

1. The principal's decision was based on getting a complaining parent to shut up, and it worked. 2. Worst case: kids see a YouTube video, and try it once..then move on with their lives. 3. Why did the WSJ even care? Quick media literacy lesson here: Stodgy old editors like stories that include words used by a young demographic...whether or not the story's actual content merits its publication. "Great Caesar's Ghost, I'd better see more stories mentioning YouTube or Twitter, or heads will roll," hollered Perry White. THAT's why the WSJ printed the story. Now Lori, Our nation isn't "falling apart because we allow them to choose for themselves." If your kid watches "Jackass," and sees a grown man fill his underwear with crayfish, then scream when several of them pinch his tender parts.... Do you really need to explain what's good and bad in that situation? Do you tell your kid,"Don't put crayfish in your shorts, or I'll smack you?" Or does your child laugh and say "What an idiot!" Equip your children with enough common sense to make the right decision...or follow them around for the rest of your life, smacking their hand every time they do something dumb.

Posted by sephen restituyo on 08 Apr 09 06:35 PM EDT

Did they just outlaw Smaties? Only in America kids....

Posted by Revolutionary on 09 Apr 09 12:59 AM EDT

In response to Lori, if you don't let your children choose for themselves, than you aren't letting them think for themselves. I think that is the real problem with our nation, our children can't think for themselves. You want to control your kids like puppets. "Don't play outside, you might fall and skin your knee." "You can't go to your friend's house, he might make you sick." "Don't "smoke" smarties, you might become a pot head." Those are the dumbest things I have ever heard. If you want to turn your children into robots that can't think and always do what they are told and never challenge the idiocy of the system, go right ahead. As for me, my children will have the ability to think logically and with rationality. Children choose to "smoke" their smarties because you choose to outlaw it. If you didn't make against the rules for them to do all of these things maybe they wouldn't get such a thrill out of doing it. So go ahead, take away their right of freedom of speech, their freedom of relgion, and their freedom to be grow up with minds that think, make them anti-american just like you.

Posted by ChristyChemical on 11 Apr 09 01:23 AM EDT

This is the most outrageous thing i've ever heard! People take things way to seriously and by making every little thing "against the rules"... kids are only going to do it more because it seems dangerous and cool! By keeping kids on such a short leash and limiting their freedom, they are bound to stray and experiment for themselves. Seriously... if adults think they are doing a good job by over reacting to every little thing kids do... they are in for quite a surprise a few years down the line. Kids will be kids. And smoking candy?! come on! It's not like they are doing hardcore drugs! sephen restituyo is right... Only in america...

Posted by christian on 15 Apr 09 02:56 PM EDT

If you ask me we need to get christ back into everything. That is why our country, kids etc is like it is. Don't have anything better to do get your BIBLE out and read it has the answer's to any problem you come up against. Just take the time to read and pray. God Bless America, our families, school, friends, everything because one things for sure without him we are nothing.

Posted by John on 28 Apr 09 09:05 PM EDT

Sounds like they are a gateway to drugs, just like marijuana. All smarties candies should be illegal. Thats been the solution since marijuana prohibition and now nobody smokes the herb.

Posted by kkid65 on 30 Apr 09 02:37 AM EDT

lets be real here its CANDY. let kids have some fun. im a college student and i can remember the silly things i did in middle school and high school, anyone remember candy cigarettes? how many had them as a kid and went out and tried smoking because of them... think a little bit people please.

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