In The News What’s behind surge in fake weight-loss drugs and bogus steroids
Mar 27, 2026
Shauna Bowers, Irish Times health correspondent who covers medical and public-health stories, explains the surge in fake medicines reaching Ireland. She breaks down massive HPRA seizures, a spike in GLP-1 weight-loss fakes, and why people risk buying unregulated drugs online. She also outlines smuggling routes, testing challenges, and the broader rise in anabolic steroids and bogus erectile dysfunction products.
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Personal Orders Fuel Fake Drug Spike
- Individual import seizures rose sharply with 14,000 consignments, showing purchases are often personal orders rather than bulk criminal imports.
- A significant proportion were GLP-1 weight-loss products, many presented as non-existent drops or patches and lacking active ingredients.
Fake GLP-1s Often Mislabelled As Drops And Patches
- GLP-1 weight-loss product seizures increased about 30-fold year on year, indicating explosive demand.
- Many seized items were labelled as droplets or dermal patches, forms that aren't legitimate for GLP-1s and contained none of the active ingredients.
Avoid Using GLP-1s Without A Clinician
- Do not use GLP-1 medications without clinical supervision because they require assessment and ongoing oversight.
- Shauna Bowers warns these drugs are not a quick fix and weight typically returns if stopped outside regulated care.