The Nebraska Regional Poison Center would like to make parents and teachers aware of a new Internet trend called “boozy bears” and “drunk gummies”.

There have been thousands of hits on Internet sites teaching teens how to change this gummi-type candy into a vodka-infused candy.

The candy absorbs the alcohol and teens are able to take their bag of “candy” anywhere. Parents and teachers would find it difficult to detect this type of alcohol use. It would take only a couple of handfuls to raise a teen’s blood alcohol level to a dangerous situation.

Alcohol poisoning symptoms can include slurred speech, confusion, lack of coordination, double vision, nausea, vomiting, seizures, low body temperature, slowed breathing rate, coma and death.

The Poison Center has not yet received any calls on this. Social media, the Internet and digital communication have made this a very different world. Parents and teachers need to be aware of the new alcohol and drug abuse trends.