Retail Availability and Characteristics of Addictive Areca Nut Products in a US Metropolis

ABSTRACT

Consumption of the areca (betel) nut is the world’s fourth-most common addictive habit, only after caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Mastication of the nut releases psychoactive alkaloids that produce greater alertness, a tingling sensation in the body, and euphoria. Consumption is prevalent in many Asia-Pacific countries, but also within immigrant populations in Europe and North America. Regarding use/abuse in the US, data are limited to mostly case/anecdotal reports, and some published literature. Little is known about the retail availability and product characteristics of areca products in the US. In this field observational study, we found that areca products were relatively inexpensive, readily available, and easily purchased in grocery stores visited in Houston, TX. Almost entirely, no hindrances or warnings for purchasing occurred, which is concerning since it is well-established that consumption is associated with substance abuse and untoward oral/systemic health effects. Several products contained the sweetening agent sodium cyclamate, a substance currently banned by the FDA. Others products contain menthol, the role of which in areca addiction is unknown. Collectively, our findings support the need for future psychopharmacological and public health research, as well as closer investigation by US policy makers and statewide/federal regulatory agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• Areca nut
• arecoline
• betel nut
• menthol
• sodium cyclamate
• US

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. When referring to the nut, the term “betel” is vastly popular in the literature, but is technically incorrect. “Areca” nut (AN) is scientifically correct since the nut is actually a fruit of the areca catechu palm tree. Betel terminology was probably derived from the name of the Piper betle (betel) vine, the leaf of which is used to wrap up sliced AN prior to mastication. For the sake of this article, we use the two terms, “betel nut” and “areca nut” (AN), interchangeably.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector.