Popular ‘Barbie drug’ sparks damning warning
Source: The Australian, October 2022
TikTok and the Therapeutic Goods Administration have teamed up to combat the rising popularity of possible melanoma-inducing drug Melanotan, after online videos of people sniffing the illegal substance in order to get a tan skyrocketed in views.
Videos of young people flaunting their supply of Melanotan – known colloquially as the “Barbie drug” – have garnered thousands of views online, along with accounts posting links to websites selling the substance, despite it being banned in Australia.
The TGA in 2019 issued a warning against the Barbie drug, but will this week release an updated caution. The body claims to be working with TikTok to remove accounts supporting its use.