<Anchor>
Appetite suppressants containing narcotic substances have been found to have been prescribed over 1 billion tablets over the past four years.
It is addictive and has side effects, so it should be used only for the treatment of obesity, but it is prescribed indiscriminately and poorly managed.
First, reporter Park Se-won covered the actual situation.
<Reporter Park Se-won>
A dermatology clinic in Seoul.
When asked to prescribe diet pills, after a short consultation, they provide about a month's worth of medication.
It is an appetite suppressant containing phentermine, a drug ingredient, and is also called 'butterfly medicine' or 'snowman medicine'.
Therefore, according to the standard for safe use, it should be prescribed only to patients with a body mass index of 30 or higher.
[Doctor of the hospital: Body composition is not enough to eat.
However, if you are not losing weight despite my efforts, or if you are still gaining weight, you may need a touch.]
Over the past 4 years, about 25 million narcotic appetite suppressants have been prescribed, and the prescription amount has reached 1 billion tablets.
There was also a person who received more than 9,000 tablets through 18 treatments last year.
In the past three years, 96% of prescriptions for narcotic appetite suppressants were made at clinic-level medical institutions.
Since 2017, more than 1,000 cases of side effects have been reported to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
[Experienced in taking narcotic appetite suppressants: I felt a little uncomfortable because my heart was pounding or my body temperature rose.
I felt a lot of fatigue and lethargy.] Although the
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety directly supervised the management, it is being pointed out that it is insufficient.
Since last year, we have been operating a system that takes administrative action after a written warning to doctors who prescribing overdose, but it has been found that no actual action has been taken so far.
Since last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has inspected medical institutions suspected of misuse and abuse, and then requested the police to investigate 37 places.
(Video coverage: Choi Dae-woong·Hyung Yoon, video editing: Lee Seung-jin, CG: Ban So-hee)
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<Anchor>
But the bigger problem is that appetite suppressants containing narcotics are illegally distributed in the market.
It is to resell prescription drugs, mainly through SNS, and even teenagers are starting to do business secretly.
Correspondent Kim Min-joon reported.
<Reporter Min-Jun Kim>
SBS reporters searched for 'dietamine', an appetite suppressant drug, on SNS.
Enlarging an image
It was not difficult to see the article saying that it was for sale, and when I inquired about purchasing, there were comments saying 'Send a message'.
When you propose a direct deal, they tell you the date and time to meet.
The seller I met at the meeting explained how to use it, and
[Mr./Seller: If you haven't tried this for the first time, it's divided into two like this.
You'd better cut it in half and eat it.
I lost 15 kg.]
I confessed that I was reselling prescription drugs.
[Mr A/Seller: (Are you selling leftovers after getting a prescription?)
.
(Then you created that (SNS) account separately for trading?) Yes, I created it a while ago...
.]
Another direct deal meeting place.
The seller with a particularly youthful appearance is a high school student.
[Mr B/Seller: (Did you know that you shouldn't buy and sell this illegally?) I knew that.
To be honest, the drug transaction itself was a bit awkward...
.]
You can easily get a prescription from a hospital, so it is used to make money.
[Seller: I'm just getting (medicine) when I need money.
(So, when you need money, are you doing it with pocket money like this?) Yes.]
Reselling or buying narcotic drugs even if prescribed is a violation of the Narcotics Control Act and may result in a fine of not more than 50 million won or imprisonment for not more than 5 years.
Illegal transaction prices have risen sharply as teenagers under the age of 16, who are prohibited from prescribing, or those who have been unable to obtain medicines at hospitals and clinics due to dosage restrictions, seek more medicines.
[Kim Dae-gyu / Gyeongnam Police Agency Narcotics Investigation Chief: 1,000 won per tablet, but usually when reselling like this, it costs 5,000 won to 6,000 won per tablet.
To make a profit like this about 5 to 6 times...
]
[Paik Jong-heon/Health and Welfare Member of the National Assembly: The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety needs a full review of appetite suppressant management, such as proper management of countermeasures.]
As illegal trade is rampant due to the risk of misuse and abuse, thorough management of appetite suppressants for narcotics is necessary by the relevant authorities. I see it.
(Video coverage: Hyung Yoon, Video editing: Jiyoung Hwang)