Extreme controversy is being stirred up in the news today as the latest fad, Blow Energy Drink, takes the nation by storm. Outraged parents, activists, narcotic agents and news media are being "blown away" by the product that has sold millions since its recent inception. APD Narcotic detective Ernest Serda, claims that Blow "promotes a criminal lifestyle and glorifies criminal activity".

Multiple vials of the white powdery substance are shipped in a styrofoam container to mimic the appearance of a brick of cocaine with a large label reading "I Love Blow" pasted to the outside of it. What is even more disturbing is that it comes with it's very own drug paraphernalia, a credit card and a mirror! News media are saying that the product is causing as much controversy as the real deal!

All I have to say is "BRILLIANT"! What better way to promote a product than to target the most vulnerable and easily influenced market in the world, the "ultra-hip party crowd", the teenager who is looking for a way to fit in, to be popular, to be amongst the "in crowd". If you think that this was not a calculated, premeditated strategy, then think again. Logan Gola, the creator of Blow, is a genius, in my opinion, and he is probably laughing all the way to the bank. The more outrage that is stirred up in the media, the more product he sells. Talk about a modern-day Kingpin, this guy corners the market! Although they include a warning on the packaging saying that you should be over 18 to use it, there are no current laws YET, regulating it's use to anyone who wants to buy it. In fact, to prove my point, I just ordered some online, and they did not even ask me my age!

Blow is sold in convenience stores, night clubs and specialty stores around the nation. And the webiste, www.iloveblow.com, is drawing in hits by the millioins! While the public is claiming that Blow pushes kids into drug addiction, Gola denies any evidence to that charge, and tells concerned opposers of the product to "get over it and move on to more important things".

Blow is said to be 3 times the strength of it's competitor, Red Bull, and contains 240 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to about 3 cups of coffee. It also has 2000 mg. of Taurine which is twice as much as Red Bull and 140 mg of Inositol. As you can see from the label, it has no calories, fat, carbs or protein and it's only nutritional value, is the B vitamins and perhaps Inositol!

Taurine is an organic acid, and according to Wikipedia, is a "major constituent of ox bile". It is found in the tissues of many animals and also humans. It was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 and has been used in recent years in energy drinks because of its ability to decrease muscle fatigue and increase exercise capacity. While Rockstar and Monster both boast an equal amount of Taurine, it is the marketing of the product Blow, that is helping to sell the product, and not the product itself, as it is really not much different than other energy drinks, and they know it!

Inostitol is a component of cell membranes and is found in virtually every cell in our bodies. It helps to establish healthy cell membranes which help to facilitate nerve impulses. Some studies have shown that Inositol can help individuals suffering from various conditions, such as bulimia, panic disorder, impotence and bipolar depression. It is said to help regulate the central nervous system. It is no wonder then, that energy drink manufacturers would add it to help sell their energy drink products. If it will boost sales, then hell, let's add it!

And, let's not forget about good ol' caffeine! As stated previously, they say that 240 mg. of caffeine is like drinking about 3 cups of coffee. While that does not seem to be harmful, doctors do warn that too much can cause an increase in blood pressure, rapid heart beat and heart palpitations. Now doesn't that sound great for our kids! And where is this on the label of Blow Energy drink? I assure you, no where to be found! It is important to note that people should NOT mix this crap with any other caffeinated beverages, as this could spell trouble!

While the website is easily accessible to all kids who have computers, and it uses sexually explicit images and rock music to "lure" kids in, it all boils down to parental and media control. Parents need to monitor what websites their children are frequenting, what products they are buying with their credit cards, and get involved with their kids against the war on drugs and any kind of lifestyle that promotes them. And, the media needs to just "back off" and let these things die a slow, natural death.

While Blow Energy Drink does have the propensity to have a negative impact on our society, if parents would learn to pay more attention to their children's activities, and the media would not assist these Capitalist-driven companies with their marketing strategies, then overzealous marketing campaigns would not be such a threat.

While I am not condoning what Blow marketers have done here, I am putting part of the responsibility back onto parents and the media. If the media would not have "BLOWN" this product way out of proportion in the first place, sales would not have sky-rocketed to magnificent proportions, as they did. We all need to take responsibility to protect our kids, and that includes parents, the media and society as a whole!