As incredible as it may seem, a white powder “for snorting” has recently been sold in tobacco shops. A legal powder that promises to give a boost. But what exactly is it? Dr Gérald Kierzek gives us his opinion.
You have to see it to believe it. A white powder “for snorting” (with its small straw provided!) is currently offered in French tobacco shops at €10 per gram. Sniffy offers in different flavors to give you a boost for a few minutes by simply inhaling the product… through your nose.
An intranasal boost effect
On its site, Sniffy touts the advantages of its concept, without really hiding the “festive” concept of the product.
“Whether to stay awake and/or focused, Sniffy is the ideal product. Its virtues are multiple. Sniffy will accompany you in many situations: during your physical exercises, your studies, exams but even at night” can we read in the presentation.
For this purpose, the powder is a mixture of “ine” substances (but not the one you are thinking of): taurine, caffeine, arginine, creatine, etc.
“Substances that are already found in energy drinks” confirmed Dr. Kierzek,“but that we will now snort intranasally”. By this method of administration, the effect is rapid. “This intake will make the effect almost immediate for a duration of 20 to 30 minutes”.
Any resemblance to another product is not entirely coincidental.
The arrival of this “colorful” Sniffy sold as “fun” is however not without its problems. First of all, as our expert points out, the first problem is that action is ephemeral.
“The product promises a boost but it doesn't last. However, if you are fatigue, do you need a boost? What you need above all is to sleep a little more, go out, do sports or even review your diet to favor foods that give energy. specifies our expert.
The other problem, and the most obvious, is undoubtedly this resemblance that is a little too marked with another very illegal white powder, cocaine. The brand defends itself very little, and seems to play with codes by settling for a simple “A white powder that you inhale through your nose? No confusion, Sniffy is legal” on the FAQ of its site.
So certainly, the powder sold does not contain anything illegal, and is only intended for those over 18 years old. But as a columnist said Tuesday in the show The Big Week (M6) :
“We banned chocolate cigarettes to avoid giving young people bad habits. Today we have the white powder to snort through a straw…”