Jonesing for contraband from the comfort of your desk? Through the miracle of the Web, illicit pleasures can be had virtually.

WHAT IT IS: Pregnant, abstaining, or attached to a respirator? Virtual Smoke Break lets you custom-design an animated cancer stick that burns into a scary ash. No matter how much you drink, you can’t smoke it backward.

WHERE TO GET YOUR FIX: www.lottridge.com/LOTTS/SMOKEBREAK/default.htm

WHAT IT IS: A bigger buzz, perhaps? Virtual Crack Rock offers ersatz “arctic white,” starter paraphernalia, and other goodies — and you can send some to you friends!

WHERE TO GET YOUR FIX: www.virtualcrack.com/

WHAT IT IS: If toxoplasmosis and heavy metals make you fearful of nigiri, belly up to the Virtual Sushi Bar for a simulated meal. (Quibble: My virtual tamago never arrived.)

WHERE TO GET YOUR FIX: www.ug.cs.sunysb.edu/~steinbem/

— Marrit Ingman

This article appears in October 12 • 2001.

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