NSW Health logs 1,180 emergency visits tied to black-market peptides
Monthly presentations rose from five in July 2025 to more than 217 last month, with about 18 percent of visits requiring hospitalisation.
DO
By Daniel Okafor · Regulatory Correspondent
Oct 18 21:46 ETSource: Nine.com.au
The wire
- 01NSW Health reported 1,180 emergency department presentations linked to peptide use between July 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026, with roughly even split between men and women and about 18 percent hospitalised.
- 02A quarter of patients were aged 16 to 24, psychiatrist Dr Kieran Kennedy said, with symptoms including severe nausea, vomiting, dehydration and instances of liver toxicity.
- 03Officials attribute part of the rise to social media promotion of peptides unapproved in Australia, including powders mixed at home; harms may stem from the compounds, non-sterile technique or mislabelled vials.
From the source
Read at nine.com.au‘Serious adverse effects’: Experts warning after alarming rise in hospital visits from use of black market peptides
Health experts in NSW are urging people not to use unapproved peptides sold on the black market after thousands of people presented to emergency departments due to peptide use.
