Finished 40T (40 pills) today as well; the power of 0000 (drug name). Studying goes well
These are posts that have been uploaded one after another on social media (SNS) recently. The poster identified as being born in 2013 and posted proof photos of dozens of cold medicine pills alongside a densely written notebook. The poster also claimed that taking more than the standard dose actually boosts concentration. It is one example of posts among teenagers that certify so-called OD (overdose), or taking excessive amounts.
As these OD certifications spread, warehouse-style pharmacies are being pointed to as an easy channel to obtain drugs. There are also criticisms that institutional safeguards to prevent minors from making bulk purchases of medicines are insufficient.
◇ "Don't make it hard to buy medicine"… posts recommending warehouse-style pharmacies spread
On the 14th, there was a community on X called OD shelter. About 3,000 people have joined. Many posts there share ways to take drugs out of others' sight or tips on how to avoid suspicion and buy in bulk. Critics say it is functioning as a space that effectively encourages drug misuse, going beyond a simple information exchange.
In particular, among these users, warehouse-style pharmacies are mentioned as a main purchase channel. One user wrote, "Small neighborhood pharmacies ask strict questions, but crowded large pharmacies are fine," adding, "Everyone, don't make it hard to buy medicine."
Another user said, "At a large pharmacy, they only said, 'Don't take more than one pill a day,' and sold it," adding, "This is how I bought five bottles of 000 (sleep aid)."
◇ Even if you buy sleep aids in bulk, payment goes through
A warehouse-style pharmacy is a type of pharmacy with wide display shelves and carts like a supermarket. It is spreading quickly by touting convenience and price competitiveness, as medicines and health supplements can be purchased at once.
The problem is the lack of mechanisms to curb bulk purchases. The previous day, we visited a warehouse-style pharmacy in Yongsan District, Seoul. Over-the-counter drugs frequently mentioned in OD certifications among teenagers were on display. When we put five boxes of sleep aid A in a cart and brought them to the checkout, the payment went through without any particular verification or restraint.
It was the same at another warehouse-style pharmacy visited that day in Mapo District, Seoul. At the store crowded even with foreign tourists, the checkout moved quickly, and there were no questions about the purpose of purchase or dosage. At both places, bulk purchases were effectively made without restrictions.
Drug A contains the ingredient methyl ephedrine. When taken in excessive amounts, it can have a stimulating effect, and cases of misuse among some teenagers have been reported. It has also previously been used as a raw material in the manufacture of illegal narcotics.
To prevent the manufacture of illegal narcotics, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety issued guidelines in Dec. last year limiting the per-person, per-purchase amount of drug A to a four-day supply. However, this is a recommendation, not a mandatory rule. Sales of over-the-counter drugs are left to pharmacists' discretion.
An official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "Selling medicines with a risk of misuse to teenagers without explanation may constitute a violation of pharmaceutical ethics," adding, "They may face suspension of license after deliberation and resolution by the ethics committee."
◇ "Measures needed to address teenage overdosing"
The government has also responded, but questions are being raised about effectiveness. The Ministry of Health and Welfare revised the Enforcement Rule of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in Mar. to prohibit using terms such as warehouse-style and factory-style in pharmacy names. The reasoning is that such terms could excessively entice consumers.
However, many in the industry say these steps alone will not stop teenage overdosing. An official at the Korean Pharmaceutical Association said, "For over-the-counter drugs like cold medicine, it is difficult to trace purchases after bulk buying, so there are limits to managing misuse," adding, "Teenage OD should be seen as a social pathology that requires separate measures."
The Ministry of Health and Welfare is reviewing additional response measures focused on over-the-counter drugs with potential problems. An official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "We have proposed discussing a separate management system with the pharmacists' association for medicines that cause problems depending on the consumer base."