A 27-year-old mother from US, Dreka Martin, has confessed to consuming an entire bottle of Johnson's baby powder daily, with a staggering total of $4,000 (Rs 3.33 lakh) spent this year alone. What started as a post-shower habit a decade ago has evolved into a peculiar addiction that has both intrigued and alarmed those around her. Despite warnings from the product manufacturer and concerns from friends and family, Dreka remains unyielding.
Dreka Martin's daily ritual involves devouring a 623g bottle of Johnson's Aloe & Vitamin E baby powder, choosing it over conventional meals. Her fascination lies in the unique sensation of "melting it" in her mouth, an act she engages in for up to 40 seconds before swallowing.
The financial toll of this peculiar habit has reached $14 (around Rs 1,100) a day since January, totaling an astonishing $3,780 this year.
While Dreka claims to have never experienced health or digestive issues, Johnson's, the manufacturer, emphasizes that their baby powder is formulated exclusively for external use.
Despite this, Dreka, a makeup artist, continues her daily ritual unabated, expressing concerns that her three-year-old son, Faiz Palmer, might develop a similar addiction after witnessing her unconventional consumption.
She discloses her worry about her son mirroring her behavior, recounting instances where Faiz imitates her actions after bath time.
Dreka attributes her compulsion to pica, an eating disorder characterized by cravings for non-food items. Despite attempts to conceal her habit, her TikTok confession has garnered over 400,000 likes and 24,000 followers, leading to both support and criticism.
The roots of Dreka's addiction delve into traumatic life events, notably intensifying in 2014 and resurging in January 2023 following the death of two loved ones. During her pregnancy, Dreka underwent six blood transfusions to curb her baby powder cravings, linked to perceived low iron levels. Despite taking iron pills to mitigate her urges, she remains steadfast in her unusual dietary choice.
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