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It is a breeze to order highly addictive medications, such as tranquilizers, online without a doctor’s prescription. This is evident from a sample of the consumer programme Box (BNNVARA) among five web shops. We will go into this in more detail in the broadcast of Saturday, December 2 (7:15 PM, NPO2).
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport mentions the findings of Box “very worrying”. According to her, these underline the importance of urgent additional legislation.
Oxazepam and ritalin
Box successfully ordered the tranquilizer oxazepam and the ADHD medication Ritalin (methylphenidate) in two web shops. Both drugs are normally only available with a doctor’s prescription. They are addictive and can lead to serious side effects.
Ritalin, for example, can lead to sleep problems and psychological complaints. Benzodiazepines such as Oxazepam are mainly known for the severe withdrawal symptoms, such as hallucinations and anxiety, that people can experience when they want to stop taking them.
Designerdrugs
Besides these two means knew Box can also effortlessly purchase various designer drugs – synthetic variants – of Ritalin and benzodiazepines. The effect and susceptibility to addiction of these drugs are the same as the drugs that are normally only available with a doctor’s prescription. Got it at one of the web shops Box even includes a free bag of the party drug ‘ecstasy-light’.
From research by the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) of Utrecht University that was commissioned by Box has been carried out, it appears that the question for users is very much what they consume. One benzodiazepine ordered turns out to be a mixture of two similar drugs. The pills also sometimes differ in dosage. “Although most substances appear to contain what is stated on the packaging, it is completely unclear under what conditions they were made and stored. They could have been put together in a shed for the same money,” said researcher Remco Westerink of the IRAS.
Ministry: “Very worrying”
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport calls it “very worrying that the… Box ordered resources can be easily ordered online. This underlines the importance of speedy consideration of the New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) bill in the House of Representatives,” said a spokesperson.
This new law should ensure that the Box purchased designer drug ‘4F-Methylphenidate’, a synthetic variant of Ritalin, will soon no longer be allowed to be sold. Remarkably, no fewer than nine* fail Box ordered ‘designer benzodiazepines’ outside this legislation, according to inquiries with the ministry. Although they are comparable in effect to the benzodiazepines that are obtained with a doctor’s prescription, these drugs will remain freely available when the new law comes into effect.
*This concerns these drugs: Bromazolam, Norflurazepam, Bromonordiazepam, Flubromazepam, Deschloroetizolam, Flubrotizolam, Gidazepam, Pyrazolam and Flunitrazolam.
Institute for Responsible Medicine Consumption: “Major danger to public health”
The Institute for Responsible Use of Medicines therefore believes that all substances intended to circumvent the law should be banned. “They are a major danger to public health,” says Brakel director Ruud Coolen.
The Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) cannot indicate whether it will try to continue Box found websites that illegally sell ritalin (Methylphenidate) and oxazepam. The IGJ does not make any statements about individual cases. “We can impose fines and in some cases take criminal action. To this end, we work together with the police, customs and the Public Prosecution Service,” said a spokesperson.
“Do not buy medicines online without a prescription”
The IGJ’s advice is not to buy medicines over the internet without a prescription. “You run health risks and can be scammed. Use such products under the guidance and prescription of your doctor and get them from your pharmacy.”
The discussion of the New Psychoactive Substances bill has now been postponed three times and is now on the agenda for the spring of next year. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport says it monitors the development of designer benzodiazepines (inter)nationally. “In recent years, several of these substances have been added to the Opium Act after extensive risk assessments.”
Box tonight will pay extensive attention to the risks of buying medication online without a prescription. Director Ruud Coolen van Brakel of the Institute for Responsible Use of Medicines will participate in the broadcast.
Box office can be seen on Saturday, December 2 at 7:15 PM on NPO2
2023-12-02 16:04:38
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