>THE name of this coffee has a catchy ring to it and demand for it is hot. But the long-term effects of "kopi reggae" is anything but.
Transsexuals in Kedah reportedly seek this coffee, laced with drugs and known for boosting sexual energy.
One of the transsexuals, Syazliyana, told Harian Metro that its perky effects are different from other coffees.
Said the 20-something: "It is important for me to have something that can restore my energy levels after a whole day at work. If I don't drink this coffee, it is next to impossible for me to able to work till late at night."
This illegal coffee is blended with marijuana and leaves of a type of plant used in traditional healing. Its effects are felt about 5 minutes after the first few sips and users claim the effects last as long as six hours.
Syazliyana told the Malay-language daily that some of the transsexuals in the area get their "kopi reggae" fix free from their leader.
Even though she knows the coffee is laced with drugs, she remains unfazed.
She said: "I know it has drugs mixed with it but at least it helps me last through the day."
Dangerous
But doctors caution against this use.
Dr Ismail Thamby said that the coffee is absorbed by the body faster than a capsule form of a drug.
He said: "This type of 'energy-enhancer' being consumed by transsexuals is not a new thing. The only difference is the mode and ingredients used.
"After some time, the individuals will experience negative effects, similar to those who consume Ecstacy or other drugs. The long-term effects are life-threatening."
Some of these, he said, are kidney disease, liver failure and brain damage.
