Black market boom: The dangerous trade in weight-loss drugs
31 July 2024 11:17
Semaglutide, a drug used in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, may be a genuine breakthrough for individuals struggling with weight issues. Celebrities' spectacular transformations have sparked a surge in demand for this medication. Unfortunately, this has also led to the growth of an illicit black market. BBC journalists discovered how easy it is to buy dangerous products.
Semaglutide is an active substance used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is available as injections and oral tablets. Its action involves lowering blood glucose levels and supporting weight loss by affecting the feeling of fullness and delaying gastric emptying.
Semaglutide is intended for adult patients with type 2 diabetes, for whom diet and physical activity are not sufficient to control glucose levels. It can be used alone or in combination with other antidiabetic drugs.
In recent years, semaglutide has also been approved as a weight loss aid. Unfortunately, its growing popularity has also led to the rise of an illicit black market.
She bought a weight loss drug from a "friend"
BBC journalists spoke with several people who bought semaglutide. One of them is Vicky Boyd from Newcastle. She was not satisfied with her body. When the scale showed 13 stone, she decided to look for a quick solution to lose weight.
She decided to purchase semaglutide from a friend. Unfortunately, she started feeling unwell after the first dose. She experienced vomiting, side and back pain, and her body seemed completely exhausted.
A frightened Vicky ended up in hospital, where it was determined that her body was "riddled with toxins." To make matters worse, her heart rate was over 200 beats per minute, and her kidneys were damaged. Today, despite treatment, Vicky says: -"I’m not the same. It feels like it's totally damaged me.
People think it's a quick fix but trust me, it's not - concludes Vicky.
Another woman from Sunderland, who preferred to remain anonymous, also purchased semaglutide from a friend. The first unwanted symptoms in her case appeared just three hours after taking the "drug." She started feeling nauseous and could not keep water down. She ended up in the A&E with a very high heart rate.
After everything, the substance the woman took was tested at the University of Sunderland. Dr Stephen Childs determined that it contained not semaglutide but a small amount of insulin and other "unknown compounds."
£100 for a four-week treatment
Another woman from Newcastle bought semaglutide at a beauty salon. Shortly after, she ended up in hospital with symptoms of numbness, very high heart rate, and vomiting. The BBC purchased semaglutide from the same salon, where sales were organised through Facebook.
The kit, which contained needles, liquid, syringes, and semaglutide as a white powder, cost £100 for a four-week treatment.
Lack of awareness and education
Dr Paul Evans, a doctor from Gateshead, points out that Wegovy, a drug containing semaglutide, is available by prescription in the public health system in the UK, but not in north-eastern England and North Cumbria.
Every time it comes up in the news we get a spike in patients asking about it and every time we have to say 'I’m sorry we can’t prescribe that at the moment.' There's not really a commissioning service for this in the North East at the moment. It’s also not available because of supply issues - said Dr Paul Evans in an interview with the BBC.
Professor Oksana Pyzik from the UCL School of Pharmacy emphasises that a lack of awareness regarding semaglutide leads to downplaying the dangers of buying it illegally.
People can collapse, have seizures and, if they don't get medical attention, organ failure and prolonged damage. The law needs to be updated and we also need to hold social media companies accountable - appeals Professor Oksana Pyzik.
A spokesperson for Meta, the technology company that owns Facebook, stated, "We don't allow the sale of prescription drugs on Facebook and have removed the violating content." However, similar content still appears on Facebook and other social media platforms.
The Health Department emphasises that the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) is constantly working to identify illegal traders and take appropriate action in this regard.
"Next person may not be so lucky"
Peter, Vicky Boyd's husband, warns others against buying semaglutide on the street or online. His Facebook post, in which he described his wife's experiences, was shared over 13,000 times, prompting others to share their stories.
Vicky was lucky. The next person who does it might not be - emphasises Peter.
