[Drug-Addicted Korea] ① 'Lean Body Type' Men Prescribed Narcotic Appetite Suppressants in Just 3 Minutes

Side Effects of Dietamin Prescription Limited to 'Insomnia' Only
Nausea, Depression... Severe Cases Behave Like Narcotics Users
Appetite Suppressants Easily Available Online
"Comprehensive Survey on Drug Misuse Needed"

"What did you come here for?" On the 10th, at a dermatology clinic in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the doctor who entered the examination room asked this question without even making eye contact with the reporter. When the reporter said he came to get a prescription for the narcotic appetite suppressant Dietamin, also known as 'Nabi-yak,' the doctor wrote a prescription for Dietamin and told him to try taking 14 days' worth first. The only precaution given was not to take it before sleeping. The doctor explained that insomnia could occur as a side effect. Thus, the reporter, a slim man with a height of 174 cm and weight of 60 kg, obtained the narcotic appetite suppressant within just three minutes of the consultation.

Between the 6th and 10th, Asia Economy inquired at 10 dermatology clinics located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, whether they could prescribe the narcotic appetite suppressant Dietamin. Among the 10 clinics, 7 immediately responded that they could prescribe Dietamin. Only 3 clinics said, "We cannot prescribe the drug alone," or "You must participate in a diet program to receive the medication." Although it is a narcotic drug, more than half of the clinics prescribed it without going through the necessary procedures such as measuring body mass index, checking for arteriosclerosis, or glaucoma.

South Korea is addicted to narcotic drugs. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 5,867,465 prescriptions for narcotic appetite suppressants were issued in 2021. The number of people who took these drugs in one year was 1,268,146. In 2020, 6,201,757 prescriptions were issued, showing that many people are taking narcotic appetite suppressants.

Appetite suppressants like Dietamin are used as a last resort for patients with severe obesity who need to lose weight quickly. They work by affecting the central nervous system using narcotics to suppress appetite. The side effects are equally dangerous. Beyond simply losing appetite, users may experience dizziness and unexplained depression. Park (28), a resident of Gwanak-gu, Seoul, said, "I was prescribed Dietamin in my early 20s for dieting and took it as instructed by the hospital," adding, "Nevertheless, I experienced nausea, dizziness, headaches, depression, and insomnia." He also lamented, "Due to the side effects, I now suffer from an eating disorder," expressing ongoing difficulties.

Narcotic appetite suppressants like Dietamin can cause users to behave like those who have taken 'real drugs' if the side effects are severe. On the 28th of last month, a woman in her 20s, A, drove recklessly and collided with six vehicles in a row on a road near Topyeong-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. The police initially suspected drunk driving or drug use, but the vehicle contained not narcotics but narcotic appetite suppressants. The police believe that hallucinations caused by the appetite suppressant led A to drive recklessly.

On the 10th, a reporter from this newspaper was directly prescribed the narcotic appetite suppressant Dietamin. The reporter, who is slim with a height of 174 cm and a weight of 60 kg, took only 3 minutes to receive the prescription.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

Severe Side Effects... Narcotic Appetite Suppressants Easily Available Online

If you search for 'appetite suppressants' on online shopping malls like Coupang, you can obtain appetite suppressants without a pharmacist's prescription. It is even unclear whether the appetite suppressants sold on online shopping malls are food products or pharmaceuticals.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

The bigger problem is that narcotic-like appetite suppressants can be easily obtained on the market without going through hospitals. Searching for 'appetite suppressant' on internet shopping malls reveals appetite suppressants whose ingredients and origins are unknown. People who took these drugs reported side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and insomnia, experiencing the adverse effects of narcotic appetite suppressants.

It is illegal for individuals to sell pharmaceuticals on online shopping malls. However, in reality, there is no proper judgment as to whether the 'appetite suppressants' sold online are health supplements classified as food or actual pharmaceuticals.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) states that it is difficult to crack down on health supplements imported for personal use. An MFDS official said, "The so-called appetite suppressants sold on online shopping malls are sold without registration with the MFDS," adding, "If the seller imports health supplements directly from overseas for personal consumption and they pass customs, there is no way to regulate them."

Professor Yeom Geon-ung of the Department of Police and Fire Administration at U1 University said, "There is a system to monitor narcotic drugs, but the problem is being neglected by leaving it solely to the conscience of doctors and hospitals," and added, "The government needs to conduct a comprehensive survey on the misuse of narcotic pharmaceuticals as well as narcotic offenders."