Teenagers 'play Russian roulette with a needle' amid rise in seizure of weight loss drugs

Children in Ireland are playing "Russian roulette with a needle and syringe," according to the HSE's National Clinical Lead for Obesity. 

Professor Donal O'Shea made the comment following the revelation that there has been a 600% increase in the number of unauthorised weight loss drugs being seized by Revenue. 

"Parents are finding these pens under their kids pillows in their bedrooms. It is a real thing but we don't know how widespread it is," he told Newstalk. 

He highlighted that teenagers seeing "unachievable" bodies on social media could be what is pushing them to buy these drugs. 

"It's a real problem, the body image that is being presented as desirable on the likes of TikTok and Instagram," Professor O'Shea said. 

He added that they are likely buying the medication from TikTok as it is cheaper than the authorised alternative being prescribed by GPs.

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Teenagers can follow a link and lie about multiple important factors such as their age and weight, with the medication then arriving at their door in less than 48 hours

"It's happening a lot more than we think it's happening," Professor O'Shea said.

Although it's unknown exactly what's inside the drugs, tests have shown that they do contain the active ingredient GLP-1, which is what is in the likes of Ozempic. 

Professor O'Shea expressed his concern for "developing brains" and their exposure to the idea of a "perfect" body and how to achieve it. 

He added that obesity is what these drugs are supposed to be used for as it is an actual illness.

"Obesity is a disease that needs to be destigmatised and treated," Professor O'Shea said.

He highlighted how obesity treatments are effective in 40% of the people that take them, but if not properly prescribed they will not work in a healthy way. 

"The minute you use them just to lose weight, you run into trouble," he said.