Popular drugs used as ‘slimming pills’ to be classified as poison after 33 deaths
AN ingredient used in popular 'slimming pills' known to have killed at least 33 people in the UK is to be added to a list of regulated poisons by the government.
DNP - or 2.4 Dinitrophenol - is a substance used by people wanting to lose weight rapidly.
The toxic chemical is legally used as a pesticide and has been banned for human consumption since 2003.
But the pills are currently marketed and sold through social media and abroad as a weight-loss aid or “fat burner”.
The Home Office has announced that from October 1, 2023, DNP will be regulated under the Poisons Act 1972.
This means anyone who wants to buy - for legal purposes - will need a licence to do so via a registered pharmacist.
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The landmark move will mean those in possession or found selling the drug will face criminal charges.
This follows a public consultation, prompted by the families of DNP victims.
Bethany Shipsey from Worcester died in 2017 aged 21 after she purchased diet pills containing DNP online from a website in Ukraine.
Her father, Doug, told welcomed the announcement from the Home Office, but called for a complete ban of the drug.
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How does DNP work?
DNP works by preventing energy being stored as fat, instead this energy gets released by the body as heat.
This increases body temperature damages the organs, such as the kidneys and brain and can lead to seizures, coma or kidney failure.
And there is no known antidote.
It was initially used during World War I for weapons until scientists discovered it boosts metabolism and burns fat if ingested.
But it can cause an increase in temperature and metabolic rate, which can prove fatal.
The drug is used as a photographic chemical, a fertiliser and in the manufacturing of dyes and explosives.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough.
"We want to go for an outright ban because, during the years since we lost Beth, we just can’t find any legitimate industrial uses, which is why the government has been saying for all these years that it’s still legal to sell DNP.”
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has also called for a total ban of the chemical to reduce the risk to the public.
“Including DNP in the Poisons Act is a positive move as it will restrict its availability, but what’s really needed is an outright ban," RPS president Claire Anderson said.
“We are concerned that DNP is still in circulation and want to see a firm commitment to prosecuting those who make profits from it.
"We also call on social media companies to remove content promoting or selling DNP to further reduce harm," she added.
Reginald Bevan, of the Food Standard Agency’s National Food Crime Unit said the body had intervened in 515 cases of people seeking to sell the toxic substance online.
"This has resulted in a number of arrests and convictions, including imprisonment both here and overseas," he explained.
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"Any death from DNP is deeply regrettable, and our sympathies are with the victims’ families.
"We’re committed to work across Government on appropriate measures aimed at better protecting vulnerable people from accessing this harmful substance," he added.