MFDS: Medical Institutions Illegally Using ADHD Medication as 'Study-Enhancing Drug' Detected

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Commissioner Lee Ui-kyung) announced on the 29th that it selected 23 medical institutions suspected of illegal use and abuse of the medical narcotic 'Methylphenidate,' commonly known as the 'study drug,' and through planned monitoring, detected 11 medical institutions and 24 patients suspected of illegal administration.

This planned monitoring was based on the medical narcotics handling reports submitted to the Narcotics Integrated Management System from May 2018 to May of this year to select inspection targets.

Methylphenidate is a psychotropic drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It requires caution as misuse for purposes such as improving concentration, which differs from approved indications, can cause side effects like nervousness and insomnia.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety requested administrative action from the relevant local government for one institution that violated the obligation to report narcotics handling, and plans to request investigations from the relevant investigative agencies for 11 medical institutions suspected of illegal use of medical narcotics (including one institution subject to administrative action) and 24 patients suspected of illegal administration.

A Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official stated, "We will continue to strongly respond to narcotics crimes such as abuse and illegal leakage of medical narcotics," and added, "We will continuously develop analysis techniques for the Narcotics Integrated Management System to establish a focused management system for cases suspected of violations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.