Betel nut, also known as areca nut, is the seed of the fruit of the areca palm. It is grown and cultivated throughout the Pacific and is widely sold in the United States. The term betel nut actually derives from the betel tree leaves that are often rolled with the areca nuts when chewed.
The main psychoactive ingredient in Betel Nut is called arecoline. Arecoline is a highly addictive stimulant that greatly enhances energy and mood, similar to caffeine or nicotine. It is most often chewed, either alone or cut with tobacco and slaked lime powder. Prolonged betel nut chewing causes teeth and gums to turn red and eventually black. The presence of arecoline within betel nut makes chewing highly addictive.
The sale of betel nuts is not regulated in the United States, and they are commonly found in Asian and Pacific Islander markets and convenience stores. Anyone, regardless of age, can purchase betel nuts.
The World Health Organization classifies betel nut as a Group 1 carcinogen, with many studies linking it to oral cancers. The Journal of the American Dental Association warns that betel nut users are at higher risk of developing oral submucous fibrosis, an irreversible condition that causes movement loss of the jaw.