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#Pills and Privilege
Does the Ozempic Shortage Sparked by Tik Tok Sound Similar to the Opioid Crisis?
Is diabetes drug misuse becoming our next medication and healthcare crisis?
Did you know a Tik Tok weight-loss trend has caused a nationwide shortage of diabetes medication like Ozempic? Apparently, several news sources are reporting that some highly influential Tik Tok influencers are using diabetes medication for a quick diet and weight loss trend and now there’s a shortage.
An opinion piece asked if the Ozempic shortage is similar to the opioid crisis. The article pointed out the similarities. To paraphrase, they asked if this issue sounded familiar because the opioid crisis started with privileged people going to concierge doctors who prescribed painkillers to anyone who wanted and could afford them.
The OpEd said:
While Tik Tok influencers should stop creating content that uses essential medications for vanity trends and Tik Tok should ban this content, the doctors need to be held accountable, too. While it’s not technically wrong or illegal to use drugs for other uses (if the medication has a history of helping health outcomes or symptom management ) — using diabetes medication as a new “diet drug” is an abuse of power…
