For those with severe weight issues, semaglutide, the active ingredient in some weight-loss drugs, can be transformative. However, celebrity endorsements have led to a surge in demand, fueling a dangerous black market for illegal and often hazardous products. BBC Investigations reveal how easy it is to obtain these substances.
"I Just Do not Like My Body" Vicky Boyd from Newcastle was excited about an upcoming holiday but struggled with severe insecurity. "I went to the hospital and they weighed me at 13 stone; that was significant for me," she said. Desperate for a quick solution, Boyd purchased semaglutide without a prescription from a "friend of a friend."
After self-injecting, she experienced severe side effects. "Around two in the morning, I could not stop being sick. My side and back hurt, and I felt like my body was shutting down," Boyd recounted. Hospital tests revealed her body was full of toxins, with a heart rate over 200. Despite treatment, she feels permanently affected. "People think it is a quick fix, but it is not," she warns.
Fake and Toxic Products The BBC spoke to several individuals who had purchased semaglutide, found in legal drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. While Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss. A woman from Sunderland fell violently ill after injecting a substance sold as semaglutide. Tests showed it contained insulin and unknown compounds, but no semaglutide. Insulin use without medical need can cause severe health issues.
Another woman from Newcastle, who bought semaglutide from a beauty salon, experienced numbness, extreme vomiting, and a dangerously high heart rate after her first dose. The substance purchased by the BBC from the same salon was found to be genuine semaglutide, but selling it without approval is illegal. The salon owner claimed ignorance of the law and promised to stop selling the injections.
The Growing Black Market Social media platforms like Facebook have become hubs for illegal drug sales, with groups offering dubious advice on using these products. The University of Sunderland tested substances bought online, finding genuine semaglutide but highlighting the risks of unregulated purchases.
Dr. Paul Evans, a Gateshead GP, notes that Wegovy is available on prescription via the NHS but not currently in the North East and North Cumbria due to supply issues. "Every time it is mentioned in the news, we get a spike in patient inquiries, but we have to say it is not available," he explains.
"Gambling with Your Life" Oksana Pyzik, a professor at UCL School of Pharmacy, stresses the need for more education and updated laws. "There is a casualness about Ozempic not seen with other prescription medications. Buying from social media is gambling with your life," she warns.
Meta, which owns Facebook, stated they do not allow the sale of prescription drugs and are working to improve enforcement, but illegal sales persist. The Department of Health and the MHRA urge people to report illegal sales and highlight the dangers of unlicensed medicines.
If you have been affected by this report, help and support are available at BBC Action Line.
"I Just Do not Like My Body" Vicky Boyd from Newcastle was excited about an upcoming holiday but struggled with severe insecurity. "I went to the hospital and they weighed me at 13 stone; that was significant for me," she said. Desperate for a quick solution, Boyd purchased semaglutide without a prescription from a "friend of a friend."
After self-injecting, she experienced severe side effects. "Around two in the morning, I could not stop being sick. My side and back hurt, and I felt like my body was shutting down," Boyd recounted. Hospital tests revealed her body was full of toxins, with a heart rate over 200. Despite treatment, she feels permanently affected. "People think it is a quick fix, but it is not," she warns.
Fake and Toxic Products The BBC spoke to several individuals who had purchased semaglutide, found in legal drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. While Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss. A woman from Sunderland fell violently ill after injecting a substance sold as semaglutide. Tests showed it contained insulin and unknown compounds, but no semaglutide. Insulin use without medical need can cause severe health issues.
Another woman from Newcastle, who bought semaglutide from a beauty salon, experienced numbness, extreme vomiting, and a dangerously high heart rate after her first dose. The substance purchased by the BBC from the same salon was found to be genuine semaglutide, but selling it without approval is illegal. The salon owner claimed ignorance of the law and promised to stop selling the injections.
The Growing Black Market Social media platforms like Facebook have become hubs for illegal drug sales, with groups offering dubious advice on using these products. The University of Sunderland tested substances bought online, finding genuine semaglutide but highlighting the risks of unregulated purchases.
Dr. Paul Evans, a Gateshead GP, notes that Wegovy is available on prescription via the NHS but not currently in the North East and North Cumbria due to supply issues. "Every time it is mentioned in the news, we get a spike in patient inquiries, but we have to say it is not available," he explains.
"Gambling with Your Life" Oksana Pyzik, a professor at UCL School of Pharmacy, stresses the need for more education and updated laws. "There is a casualness about Ozempic not seen with other prescription medications. Buying from social media is gambling with your life," she warns.
Meta, which owns Facebook, stated they do not allow the sale of prescription drugs and are working to improve enforcement, but illegal sales persist. The Department of Health and the MHRA urge people to report illegal sales and highlight the dangers of unlicensed medicines.
If you have been affected by this report, help and support are available at BBC Action Line.
About this article
From the Medical Directory library. For advice about your own health, speak to your healthcare professional.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
No comments yet. Add a thoughtful question or comment about this article.