LAZY CAKES
 From the laid-back Lazy Larry character to the colorfully-packaged sweet chocolate, this product screams of youth appeal. Lazy Cakes, at a glance, appear to be a single-serving, gourmet-type brownie dessert; a treat you wouldn’t think twice about if you saw your teen eating. But parents beware, this is no typical brownie. When you take a close look at the label, you will see this product contains a variety of herbal ingredients along with the caution, “recommended for adults only.” What kind of brownie comes with a warning label? The kind that contains a potent mix of herbs, like Valerian Root Extract, Passionflower and Melatonin, to name a few. And how is it a brownie that is unsafe for teens can be marketed and sold to them legally? The herbal ingredients in this product are not considered food products, and therefore have not undergone FDA approval. But just because they are legal does not mean they are not dangerous. In fact, according to the National Poison Control Center, more calls come in related to Melatonin use than any other herb or supplement. Commonly reported side effects include fatigue, headache, irritability, disorientation, confusion, sleepwalking, vivid dreams and nightmares. Lazy Cakes contain an adult-sized dosage of Melatonin, which according to medical experts, is enough to cause seizures in young people. To make matters worse, these brownies are easily accessible in convenience stores and online and there are already reports of teens combining these herb-infused brownies with alcohol and other drugs (a risky mix with unknown outcomes). Parents: Know! to read labels and beware of any product that contains Melatonin or other herbal ingredients. Talk to your teen about the risk of taking herbal supplements, even if they can purchase them legally. And consult a physician before using supplements of any type to help you or your child relax or sleep. Know! Parent Tips are designed to educate and empower parents of middle school students so that they will have sufficient, accurate, and relevant information to have conversations with their child about the risks associated with substance abuse. Visit HelpThemKnow.com to sign up to receive the twice-monthly Parent Tips. |
Parent
Alert: Lazy Cakes Are Not for Teens