THOSE early toilet paper-hoarding days of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive boom in sales of high-tech Japanese toilets in the US.
The unexpected side-effect sees many more American backsides treated to heated seats and artfully directed jets of warm water, with manufacturer Toto Limited confirming that sales of its Washlet more than doubled, and continue to grow despite the toilet paper panic subsiding.
The electronic toilets were initially created for hospital patients suffering severe haemorrhoids, but now feature in more than 80% of Japanese households.
Toto has long been cultivating the US market, with spokesperson Nariko Yamashita saying explosive sales growth over the last two years was "a situation where the seeds sown for decades are finally flowering," according to Fortune.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration has highlighted a worrying trend which has seen the creation of brightly coloured fentanyl pills in an attempt to target young Americans with the synthetic opioid.
The organisation said it was increasingly seizing "highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy", in forms including pills, powder and chalk-like blocks.
"Every colour, shape and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous," the agency warned.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 06 Sep 22
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 06 Sep 22
