[Drugged Nation]⑧ Medical Narcotics Exploit Legal Loopholes as "Weight Loss Pills"

■ Chapter 2. Narcotic Crimes Targeting Teenagers

9.5 Billion Medical Narcotics Prescribed in the Past Five Years
Abuse of Diet Pills and Study Enhancement Drugs
'Teenage Drug Addiction' Temptation Within Legal Boundaries

In South Korea, 2 out of every 5 people are prescribed medical narcotics. Lax medical oversight has turned prescriptions into passes that can lead teenagers toward drug addiction. Reckless prescriptions of so-called "weight loss drugs" or "study enhancement drugs" are tempting young people with their effects, rather than warning them about the dangers of addiction. Due to the abuse and misuse of drugs within the boundaries of legality, the number of medical narcotics prescribed over the past five years has reached almost 9.5 billion pills.

According to a compilation of investigative authorities and medical experts on May 19, medical narcotics are increasingly becoming the first gateway through which teenagers are exposed to narcotics. Appetite suppressants containing phentermine are colloquially known as "diet butterfly pills" due to their butterfly-shaped tablets. Methylphenidate-based drugs, used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), are referred to as "focus-enhancing pills" in academic circles. Fentanyl-based painkillers, which have caused fear in the United States, are now emerging as the starting point for teenagers falling into full-blown addiction for hallucinogenic purposes.

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Heesun Jung, Distinguished Professor of Forensic Science at Sungkyunkwan University and former Director of the National Forensic Service, warned, "Phentermine, the active ingredient in the so-called 'butterfly diet pills,' can be extremely dangerous," and pointed out, "Its chemical structure belongs to the same class as methamphetamine." Professor Jung added, "While the direct effects of these drugs are milder than narcotics, both appetite suppressants and ADHD medications are psychoactive drugs," and expressed concern that "as investigative authorities have pointed out, students exposed to these drugs may be more susceptible to narcotic addiction."

Haeguk Lee, Professor of Psychiatry at Catholic University, also pointed to drugs like the "butterfly pill," which are easily accessible to teenagers. Professor Lee stated, "It is still difficult to definitively say that medical narcotics are a gateway to illegal drug addiction," but explained, "There are indeed many cases in which teenagers in their late teens start taking weight-loss drugs to lose weight and then fall into drug misuse and abuse."

According to data on medical narcotics prescriptions secured by The Asia Business Daily through Assemblywoman Nam Insoon of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, the number of patients prescribed medical narcotics between 2021 and 2025 reached 98.41 million, close to 100 million. The number surpassed 20 million for the first time in 2024, and last year, 20.19 million people received prescriptions.

Over the five-year period, the number of medical narcotics prescriptions totaled 513.59 million cases, averaging over 100 million prescriptions per year. While the number of appetite suppressant prescriptions decreased from 5.86 million in 2021 to 4.59 million last year, there is increasing concern as prescriptions among teenagers are on the rise. ADHD medications are particularly noteworthy. Prescriptions for methylphenidate-based drugs increased every year, from 1.72 million in 2021 to 3.22 million last year. It is known that among teenagers, there are also cases of proxy prescriptions, identity theft, and resale.

The problem of tolerance lies at the core of how such drug misuse leads to illegal drug addiction. Professor Jung remarked, "There are concerns that medical narcotics may serve as a stepping stone toward illegal narcotics," and noted, "As tolerance builds, people tend to increase their dosage or seek drugs with more potent effects."

The actual prescribed volume illustrates how rapidly the use of medical narcotics has surged. During this period, the number of medical narcotics prescribed reached 9,479,460,000 pills. Assuming each pill is 1.5 cm long and laid end to end, they would circle the Earth three and a half times. Last year alone, 923.81 million anti-anxiety pills such as diazepam were prescribed. Considering the number of patients for whom these drugs were prescribed was 5.92 million, this amounts to 156 pills per person. ADHD medications totaled a staggering 1.0815 billion pills last year, more than double the 45.38 million pills prescribed in 2021.

An integrated response that breaks down inter-agency silos is required to prevent the misuse of medical narcotics from luring even teenagers. Professor Lee stated, "Best practice guidelines for medical prescriptions should be discussed at the Ministry of Health and Welfare in the context of disease management. However, discussions have so far focused only on how to regulate the rising number of prescriptions, led by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety without the participation of all stakeholders," and emphasized, "There also needs to be thorough crackdowns on illegal distribution and consumption."

Professor Jung stressed, "Treatment and rehabilitation are extremely important in addressing narcotics addiction, but right now, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety are operating separately when it comes to treatment and rehabilitation," adding, "There is a real need for a control tower that can oversee the entire situation." He further emphasized, "We need a comprehensive response that addresses how to suppress supply, then demand, as well as treatment and rehabilitation, and the overall preventive policies that are needed."

Special Reporting Team | Jang Heejoon, Oh Jieun, Park Hosu, Lee Jiye, Park Jaehyeon

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