SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Weight loss jabs are now are now available on the NHS for those with a prescription. But a black market for the in-demand drugs is springing up on social media - the M.E.N's Nicole Wootton-Cane investigates.
Weight loss jabs are being sold illegally online via TikTok and social media, a Manchester Evening News investigation can reveal.
Data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 's Yellow Card scheme shows since 2019, 23 deaths and 1,179 'serious' adverse reactions have been linked to semaglutide use in the UK. They added they had reviewed the account in question and permanently removed it for violating these guidelines.
Semaglutide can be given to those with PCOS, but like in other scenarios, must be prescribed and sanctioned by a medical professional. We requested the four week 5mg course, and were asked to send £40 by bank transfer. Just days later, we received the jabs. "Taking these medications puts individuals at risk of 'everything from allergic reactions to uncontrolled blood sugar levels, which could cause blurred vision, palpitations, seizures, or loss of consciousness," she said, adding the illicit jabs could contain active ingredients outside what the customer expected, which could be dangerous.
"The only way to guarantee you receive a genuine weight-loss medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy, including those trading online, against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional," the MHRA website reads. Clinical trials indicate that when used alongside diet, physical activity, and behavioural support, Wegovy users can achieve up to a 15 per cent reduction in body weight after one year.
Dr Kath McCullough, NHS England’s National Specialty Advisor for Obesity, said obesity is 'one of the greatest public health issues facing the NHS' and weight loss drugs are 'an important tool in helping people lose weight while also reducing the risk of other serious long-term conditions'. Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement, told pharmaceutical publication Community and pharmacy news, analysis, and CPD, the organisation are seeing 'home brew' counterfeit weight loss jabs being sold on social media.
“A lot of the people that are selling these things on social media...don’t realise what they’re doing is criminal”, he told C+D. “They probably don’t even realise it’s a medicine they’re selling - they think it’s just some sort of beauty treatment...or cosmetics.Speaking to the M.E.N he said the MHRA works 'tirelessly' with partners to 'identify and intervene' against those selling medicines illegally and causing harm.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
TikTok Investigation Reveals Push for Depressing and Angry ContentAn investigation found TikTok repeatedly pushed videos promoting depression and anger to a fictional 13-year-old boy's account, including content inspired by Andrew Tate. The account was inundated with videos about feeling depressed or lonely, including references to suicide. Similar concerns were raised for a fictional 13-year-old girl's Instagram account, which was shown overly simplified videos about having ADHD and autism. This has prompted calls for stricter content restrictions on children's accounts.
Read more »
Special Counsel Report Concludes Investigation into Trump's Efforts to Overturn 2020 ElectionThe special counsel's report concludes the criminal investigation that brought charges against a former president for the first time. Special counsel Jack Smith found that Trump spread demonstrably false claims about the 2020 election and knew he lost.
Read more »
ITV Viewers Disappointed by Christmas Eve TikTok SpecialITV viewers expressed disappointment over the network's Christmas Eve programming, particularly the decision to air a two-hour special featuring the year's top TikToks instead of a traditional Christmas movie.
Read more »
A very special relationship: Donald Trump appoints the creator of The Apprentice as special envoy to...In his announcement on the social media platform Truth Social Trump described Mark Burnett as the producer of some of the biggest shows in TV history.
Read more »
TikTok's Fate Hangs in the Balance as US Supreme Court Weighs BanThe US Supreme Court is deliberating on a law that could force TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell or shut down the popular video app by January 19. The ban centers around concerns that China might use TikTok to manipulate US users. This potential outcome has significant implications for TikTok's future and the broader social media landscape, with competitors poised to benefit from a decline in TikTok's influence.
Read more »
Supreme Court Skeptical of TikTok's Free Speech Claims in National Security LawsuitAll nine Supreme Court justices expressed doubt over TikTok's argument that a law requiring its Chinese parent company to sell its U.S. subsidiary would violate its free speech rights. The law, signed by President Biden, aims to prevent app stores from carrying TikTok unless ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, sells its U.S. subsidiary to a non-foreign entity. The case centers on the balance between national security and data protection concerns raised by the potential for Chinese government influence over TikTok's vast user data, against TikTok's First Amendment right to free speech.
Read more »