/24-7PressRelease/ - MOORESVILLE, NC, September 17, 2006 - Soccer moms, Hollywood Stars and even college kids are abusing unapproved drugs for their weight loss side effects. Paying no mind to potentially fatal side effects, abusers of drugs approved for uses outside of weight loss take on this risk as a way to avoid smart nutrition and daily exercise. According to a study by the federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 15 million Americans ages 12 and up--that's 6.1 percent of the population--took a prescription drug for non-medical purposes.
"People are looking for a quick fix," says Christine Gerbstadt, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Taking a pill is so much easier than going to the gym or cutting back on portions."
According to a recent story in the Wall Street Journal, doctors are permitted to prescribe drugs for applications other than those for which they are approved - a use that is termed off-label. But not everyone is getting these drugs from a physician. Some are buying the drugs from Internet pharmacies or from Canada. A number admit they are taking drugs prescribed for friends or family members.
Weight loss is only one side effect of these drugs. Many have additional, less desirable side effects, which can include abdominal cramps, anxiety, insomnia and cognitive problems. One drug, Wellbutrin, comes with a "black box" warning that it may cause increased risk of suicide in children and adolescents. The "black box" warning is the strongest warning that the FDA requires.
"There's an even bigger problem that I've never seen addressed in the media. As off-label demand for these pills increases so does their black market availability. And that's where even greater dangers always found. Counterfeiters can produce fakes at a fraction of the true cost and sell them at substantial mark-ups. These counterfeit versions can be even more dangerous than the 'real' versions. The counterfeiters are not concerned at all with the well-being of the 'drug' user. The motive is purely for profits. It's the same model as the black market for steroids", said Joey Atlas, Exercise Physiologist.
Joey Atlas produces office/home/travel fitness DVDs for clients around the world. Your readers can sign up for a free subscription to his world famous 'Secrets of a Trainer' e-newsletter. These are available at: http://www.TheFitnessShaman.com.
If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Joey Atlas, please call 904-891-6336 or e-mail Joey at Joey@TheFitnessShaman.com
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