"ID? Not Required"...Warehouse Pharmacies Fueling Drug Misuse

"Just take all of them except one or two packs. Then I won't need to get your contact information."

On April 13, at a warehouse-style pharmacy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, when a customer poured 10 packs (100 tablets) of a sleep aid containing diphenhydramine-a substance involved in overseas cases where teenagers have died after taking it-onto the counter, the pharmacist hesitated, saying, "Technically, we are supposed to ask for your name and phone number if you buy more than 10 packs..." However, when the customer said they would remove two packs, the transaction proceeded immediately, without any ID check or even basic medication guidance. The process was no different from buying a regular snack or beverage.

In a warehouse-style pharmacy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, medications including sleep aids known for being used in teenage 'Overdose (OD) Parties' are displayed. Photo by Jee-Ye Lee

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As 'Overdose (OD) Parties' involving teenagers are becoming increasingly common both in Korea and abroad, warehouse-style pharmacies-where it is possible to purchase large quantities of medication with little to no restriction-are coming under scrutiny as regulatory blind spots. Unlike regular pharmacies, where pharmacists recommend or suggest medicines according to symptoms, these warehouse-style pharmacies allow customers to choose and collect products themselves, and there are few regulations even for bulk purchases, leading to concerns that this environment encourages drug misuse and abuse.

According to the medical community as of April 21, there are more than 30 warehouse-style pharmacies nationwide, with at least 9 located in Seoul alone. When reporters checked five warehouse-style pharmacies in Seoul to see if it was possible to purchase sleep aids and cold medicines-identified as main drugs used at OD parties-in bulk, all five allowed such purchases without any ID checks or purchase limits. One pharmacy said, "There is no problem as long as you don't buy 20 to 30 packs of sleep aids," while another advised, "Let us know in advance if you want a large quantity, since we need to bring stock out from the warehouse."

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Warehouse-style pharmacies sell medicines at prices up to 30% lower than regular pharmacies. Thanks to these low prices, they are seen as places where teenagers can buy medicines freely without attracting attention. On social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), recipes are even being shared for mixing dozens of tablets of specific medications with high-caffeine drinks to induce a dazed, hallucinogenic state. According to 18-year-old A, who regularly attends OD parties, "It's more convenient to buy here because they're not as strict as neighborhood pharmacies."

According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of patients with drug intoxication increased only slightly from 15,789 in 2021 to 15,894 in 2025-a rise of just 0.7% over the past five years. However, teenage patients surged from 1,619 to 2,185 during the same period, representing a 35.0% increase. This rate of increase is more than 50 times higher than the overall average. Notably, while the number of male teenage patients grew from 295 to 408, the number of female teenage patients jumped from 1,324 to 1,777, marking an even steeper rise.

Medicines displayed at a warehouse pharmacy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with customers pulling carts among them. Photo by Jiy? Lee

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The main drugs used in OD parties that can be found at warehouse-style pharmacies are designated by the Korean Pharmaceutical Association as over-the-counter medications for which teenagers should exercise caution. Ingredients such as diphenhydramine and doxylamine, found in sleep aids, can paralyze the brain's neurotransmission system if taken in excess, resulting in delirium or hallucinations. They can also cause permanent damage, including lifelong kidney dialysis. Acetaminophen, found in painkillers, is a substance frequently used in suicide attempts by teenagers, so extra caution is required. In addition, more than 20 other ingredients are classified as hazardous substances.

There are growing concerns that the proliferation of warehouse-style pharmacies, where potentially lethal quantities of medication can be purchased without restriction, may fuel not only teenage drug abuse but also the widespread misuse of medications across society. A representative from the Korean Pharmaceutical Association warned, "Medications should only be taken when necessary for treating illness, but the structure of warehouse-style pharmacies encourages bulk purchases as if they were ordinary consumer goods, inevitably leading to pathological behaviors. Especially in the current situation where teenage drug abuse is a major concern, this could create a society that essentially encourages children to take drugs."

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