Anti anxiety pills are now the most common type of medication to be sourced on the black market with more than a third of all Brits admitting to doing it
Depressed Brits are seeking anti-anxiety medication on the black market, top doctors have warned.
A study has found the start of a new year can leave many of us feeling low and now warnings have been made to those who may be struggling the most.
Anti-anxiety pills are now the most common type of medication to be sourced on the black market, with more than a third of all Brits sourcing the stuff in the hopes it may help them day to day.
But an urgent warning against heading to the black market by top docs, who warn people could be taking anything, as it is not regulated.
Research collated by Oxford Online Pharmacy found that 35% of those asked admitted to sourcing the medication online in secret.
They said they had gone through that means of getting the medicine because they were ashamed about their struggles and did not want anyone to know.
The illegal means of getting the medication was most common for people aged 35 to 43, closely followed by 45 to 54-year-olds.
Kiran Jones, Clinical Pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy has now issued an urgent warning to those considering or are taking black market anti-anxiety medication.
He said: ““Anxiety is the most common mental health condition globally. It’s estimated that five percent have an anxiety disorder at any given time. It is therefore unsurprising that there is a growing black market for anti-anxiety medication, alongside those prescribed legally by health professionals. But it is very concerning.
“Some illegally obtained benzodiazepines look like prescription medicines but are counterfeit pills that may contain dangerous or lethal levels of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and other potent substances.
“There is also a high risk of dependency with these types of drugs, especially when taken long-term. The body can build up a tolerance to them, which means users may need to take higher doses to get the same effect, leading to dependence.
“There is no safe way to take prescription-only medication from an unlicensed source, even if it is given to you by a family member or friend.”
The group asked a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults aged 18 and over if they have bought, received or have been offered medication from an unlicensed (and therefore illegal) source.
Of the people who said yes, a third had requested anti anxiety meds such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax.
“The black market for medication sits outside of regulation and has no oversight, making it extremely dangerous.
“There’s a reason you can only take some anti-anxiety medications with medical supervision and a legal prescription.”