By Thomas Moore, Health Correspondent
The father of a medical student who died a year ago after taking a diet drug has told Sky News he is devastated that lives are still being lost despite a promise of action from the Prime Minister.
Geoff Houston said three young people have been killed by the fat burner dinitrophenol, or DNP, since his daughter Sarah died last September at the age of 23.
Only last week an inquest heard how Chris Mapletoft, 18, a talented rugby player died after taking DNP to enhance his physique.
In April David Cameron vowed to "look carefully" at the problem.
But Sky News found the drug widely available online.
Keen horse rider Sarah Houston died at the age of 23 after taking DNP Mr Houston said: "I think these are preventable cases and it's so sad another family has to go through the same grief we went through.
"I think it's so shocking that people can try and profit from this stuff - and if they have any sense of moral decency they should stop selling it.
"And I would also say to those people taking it - you are playing a game of roulette here."
DNP was originally developed as an obesity drug. But it was abandoned after it was found to cause the body to progressively overheat.
Chris Mapletoft died after taking the pills blamed for Sarah's death Symptoms include a high temperature, rapid breathing, an irregular heartbeat and dizziness.
But it is still used by some overweight people, those with eating disorders and bodybuilders.
Sarah Houston suffered from anorexia and had been secretly taking DNP for up to two years. She had bought the yellow capsules online from a supplier in Argentina.
At least 66 people have died worldwide after taking the drug.
It is illegal to sell DNP for human consumption. But it can be distributed for use as a pesticide.
Sky News found DNP diet pills were widely available online Mr Houston said capsules have no industrial use and should be banned.
"I would like to see a lot more done in the UK," he said.
"If it is banned as a capsule it will be so much more difficult for these young people to take it. It is morally repugnant for these people to sell it to these vulnerable people."
The Department of Health sent all GPs and A&E departments a letter earlier this month alerting them to the problem.
The Food Standards Agency said it is working with the police and local authorities to stamp out the sale of DNP to consumers.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Diet Pill DNP: Sarah Houston's Dad Warns Users
Dengan url
http://cucikakiku.blogspot.com/2013/09/diet-pill-dnp-sarah-houstons-dad-warns.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Diet Pill DNP: Sarah Houston's Dad Warns Users
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Diet Pill DNP: Sarah Houston's Dad Warns Users
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar