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Bucks Trading Standards warns of dangers of illegal weight loss drug (7 December 2015)

Date: 07/12/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Bucks Trading Standards warns of dangers of illegal weight loss drug

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards are warning about the dangers of using the illegal drug 2.4 Dinitrophenol (DNP) for weight reduction and bodybuilding, in an autumn campaign aimed at students in the county.

The Buckinghamshire campaign comes in the wake of a rise in the number of deaths nationally from DNP poisoning in the past five years – from zero in 2011.

Among them was 28-year-old Sean Cleathero from High Wycombe, who died in hospital after taking DNP powder in a local gym in October 2012.

Chesham student Sarah Houston also died a month earlier from a DNP dose, while studying at Leeds University.

The campaign also follows the death of student Sarmad Alladin in 2013 from a DNP dose – Sarmad attended Surrey's specialist University for the Creative Arts and was a fitness enthusiast.

Trading Standards Officers are also investigating suspicions that some illegal sellers are scammers, who insist buyers pay by bank or cash transfer – and even ask for payment on delivery.

As part of the campaign, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards officers are visiting universities and colleges throughout both counties to raise awareness – and to reinforce the message by chatting to students and making them aware of the dangers of consuming 2.4 Dinitrophenol.

The drug is thought to help lose weight as part of fat-burning body-building programmes – but in the long-term, DNP can damage the heart and nervous system

Beer mats with the message Would you play Russian Roulette with DNP?are being given to students and student union bars, targeting the age group officers say is most at risk.

The message will be reinforced through social media.

Trading Standards Officer Donna Ward is leading the campaign and said the sale and supply of DNP for consumption is illegal.

“It's most definitely unsafe for human consumption – yet it is clear from the figures provided that it's being sold illegally, mainly online, as an aid to help with weight loss,” Ms Ward said.

”Our aim is to reach the young people – many of them students – who are most at risk of being tempted to use DNP, with the message that this is a potential killer.”

Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, Martin Phillips, added:

“Five deaths this year from taking these drugs are five too many.

“I want to make sure those at risk of being sucked into this illegal trade are well aware of the dangers and warned off.”

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