Jeffrey Salazar
Diet pills are prescription drugs or over-the-counter supplements designed to help users reduce or control their weight. They work by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing fat absorption. Diet pills are widely available and come in multiple forms, including oral medications, injections, and supplements. While they can be effective in promoting weight loss, they also carry risks and side effects, and their misuse can lead to addiction and harmful health consequences. Some people take diet pills recreationally, and this non-medical use is often associated with underlying mental health disorders, such as eating disorders, body image concerns, and the pursuit of a quick fix for weight loss.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons for taking diet pills recreationally | Weight loss, appetite suppression, increased wakefulness, to get "high" |
| Diet pill types | Prescription, over-the-counter, supplements |
| Diet pill examples | Didrex, Tenuate, Mazanor, Sanorex, Orlistat, Wegovy, Zepbound, Phentermine, Adipex-P, Black Beauties |
| Side effects | Nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, diarrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric adverse events, psychiatric, autonomic, or gastrointestinal symptoms, heart palpitations, increased heart rate and blood pressure |
| Addiction | Common, due to underlying eating disorder or other mental health disorder, false sense of control |
| Treatment | Inpatient and outpatient programs, dual-diagnosis outpatient programs |
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What You'll Learn
Diet pill addiction and treatment
Diet pills are a class of drugs designed to help users reduce or control their weight. They can be prescription drugs or over-the-counter supplements. Diet pills interfere with bodily processes that affect weight by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing fat absorption. They are also known as anorectic or anorexiant drugs, appetite suppressants, anti-obesity medication, or centrally acting anti-obesity preparations.
The most addictive type of diet pill is the stimulant category, which contains amphetamines. Amphetamines are stimulants that increase energy and performance while reducing appetite. Diet pills and amphetamines have many similar properties that make both substances addictive. People who abuse diet pills may experience increased energy, feelings of euphoria, physical dependence, and, eventually, addiction. Other factors that influence the development of a diet pill addiction include biological factors, environmental factors, home and family life, peers, age of first use, and how the drug is taken.
Diet pill abuse can have frightening side effects and can be dangerous and destructive to the body. Side effects of diet pill abuse include increased heart rate, flushed skin, dry mouth, insomnia, constipation, pulmonary hypertension, heart valve disease, and withdrawal symptoms. Diet pill abuse can also cause overdose, which can include heart failure.
Diet pill addiction is often caused by an eating disorder or other underlying mental health disorder. People may become dependent on diet pills as they can provide a false sense of control in a life that seems out of control. Diet pill addiction can develop quickly and quietly as the pills are readily available over the counter or by prescription.
Treatment for diet pill addiction starts with identifying the underlying reason for abusing them. Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs can help individuals work through their struggles and find lasting success.
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The prevalence of weight loss promises in America
Diet pills are widely available in the United States, sold over the counter or by prescription. This easy access, coupled with the allure of quick weight loss, has contributed to the recreational use of these pills. The prevalence of weight loss promises in America is evident in the surging popularity of weight-loss drugs as obesity rates rise.
In recent years, obesity rates have climbed in the United States, with about three-quarters of U.S. adults aged 20 and older falling into the overweight (31%) or obese (42%) categories in 2017-2018. This trend is not new, as obesity rates have been steadily increasing over the past two decades, impacting more than one-third of adults and approximately 17% of children and adolescents. Obesity-related health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, are leading causes of preventable death, underscoring the urgency to address this epidemic.
The weight loss industry in the United States is vast and diverse, offering various treatments, medications, and supplements. While some weight-loss drugs are FDA-approved and evidence-based, showing promising results in treating obesity, others come with risks and side effects. Diet pills, for instance, can interfere with bodily processes that affect weight by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing fat absorption. However, they can also lead to addiction, especially when used outside of the recommended dosage or method.
The allure of quick weight loss has driven the recreational use of certain drugs. Phentermine, for example, is a prescription-only appetite suppressant that has been misused for weight loss and recreational purposes. The use of weight-loss drugs is prevalent, with about one in eight American adults having taken a GLP-1 agonist, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. These drugs were initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes but have shown effectiveness in addressing obesity and related health conditions.
While weight-loss drugs may play a role in combating obesity, their high cost limits accessibility. Experts emphasize that medications alone are not the solution to public health issues like obesity, and that a comprehensive treatment plan, including a healthy eating plan and exercise, is crucial for effective and safe weight management.
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Side effects and potential for abuse
Diet pills are commonly abused due to their appetite-suppressing properties. They are easily accessible over the counter or by prescription, and people often abuse them to lose weight or maintain weight loss. However, they have frightening side effects and a high potential for abuse and addiction. Diet pill addiction can have a destructive impact on the body.
Diet pills encompass prescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements designed to help users reduce or control their weight. They interfere with bodily processes that affect weight by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing fat absorption. Diet pills are designated as Schedule III or IV controlled substances to prevent their abuse and limit their use to those who can benefit from them.
Side effects of diet pill abuse include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and diarrhoea. Some pills may also cause gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, and other serious issues like stomach problems, kidney problems or failure, gallbladder issues, pancreatitis, or hypoglycaemia.
The abuse of diet pills is well-documented in individuals with eating disorders, with prevalence estimates as high as 50%. Diet pill use is associated with purging behaviours, higher BMI, anxiety disorders, alcohol abuse, and borderline personality disorder. It is also linked to higher novelty-seeking traits, impulsivity, and trait anxiety.
Treatment for diet pill addiction involves identifying the underlying reasons for abuse. Inpatient and outpatient programs can help address these issues and support long-term recovery.
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The obesity epidemic
Obesity is a complex condition that poses a major risk of serious diet-related noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and certain forms of cancer. It is a public health problem that affects virtually all age and socioeconomic groups and threatens to overwhelm both developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been raising awareness about the obesity epidemic since the 1990s.
In 2022, about 1 in 8 people worldwide were living with obesity, and the number is expected to grow. Worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled. As of 2022, 2.5 billion adults (aged 18 and older) were overweight, with 890 million classified as obese. In the US, obesity rates are even higher, with approximately one-third of adults and 15-20% of children and adolescents considered obese.
To combat the obesity epidemic, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes promoting healthy eating plans and exercise, as well as addressing the environmental, social, and economic factors that contribute to obesity. Weight-loss medications and surgery can also be part of a treatment plan for obesity, but they are most effective when combined with lifestyle changes. Diet pills, for example, can help with hunger, cravings, and metabolic preservation, but they also carry risks and side effects and can be addictive. Therefore, it is important to use them under medical supervision and as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
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Non-medical use of prescription stimulants
Diet pills are available over the counter or by prescription and are designed to help users reduce or control their weight by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing fat absorption. They are also known as anorectic or anorexiant drugs, appetite suppressants, anti-obesity medication, or centrally acting anti-obesity preparations.
Prescription stimulants are sometimes used non-medically for weight loss, which can be considered recreational use. A study of 707 college students found that 4.4% of participants reported non-medical prescription stimulant (NMPS) use for weight loss, with 56.7% of those reporting receiving the medication from friends. Individuals reporting NMUPS for weight loss had higher body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms. This behaviour is associated with other harmful behaviours such as vomiting for weight loss and the use of laxatives and diuretics.
The non-medical use of prescription stimulants for weight loss is part of a broader trend of diet pill use for recreational purposes. In the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States, with more than one-third of adults and approximately 17% of children and adolescents falling into this category. This has led to a rise in weight-loss efforts, including the use of diet pills. Drugs such as dinitrophenol, ephedrine, amphetamine, fenfluramine, and phentermine have been marketed for quick weight loss. Phentermine, for example, is medically used as an appetite suppressant but is associated with acute-onset psychosis and mood changes when used illicitly.
Amphetamines, in particular, have a long history of recreational use. Biphetamine 20, also known as "Black Beauties", was widely used as a cheap and legal alternative to cocaine in the 1960s and 1970s. Adderall, a similar drug that is still available today, is also sometimes used recreationally and has been featured in popular culture, such as the show Russian Doll.
The recreational use of diet pills can lead to addiction, especially in individuals with underlying mental health disorders such as eating disorders. Diet pill addiction can have destructive side effects and negatively impact an individual's health, relationships, and personal life.
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Frequently asked questions
Diet pills are often taken recreationally due to their appetite-suppressing properties and their ability to induce weight loss. They can also provide a false sense of control and are easily accessible over the counter or by prescription.
Diet pills can have frightening side effects and addictive properties. They can interfere with bodily processes that affect weight, such as increasing metabolism or preventing fat absorption. They may also contain controlled substances or drugs not approved in a particular country.
Some commonly abused diet pills include Didrex (benzphetamine), Tenuate or Tepanil (diethylpropion), and Mazanor or Sanorex (mazindol). "Black Beauties", which were widely used in the 1960s and 1970s, contained amphetamines and were marketed as diet pills. Phentermine is another diet pill that has been used recreationally.
