Ahead of the 2027 CSAT, 571 online posts illegally selling or brokering pharmaceuticals under names such as 'study-enhancing drugs' and 'CSAT pills' were detected. Among these, 553 posts related to methylphenidate, a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), accounted for the majority.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 16th that, as a result of intensive inspections conducted from the 26th to the 30th of last month on social networking services (SNS) and general websites ahead of the CSAT scheduled for the 19th, it detected 571 posts illegally selling or brokering pharmaceuticals. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has taken measures to request the blocking of the relevant sites from bodies such as the Broadcasting Communications Commission of Korea.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted intensive inspections during major mock exam and CSAT-related periods, including May, August, and October this year, while also carrying out continuous monitoring. Including this inspection, a total of 2,536 online posts illegally selling or brokering methylphenidate have been detected up to last month.
Methylphenidate is a psychotropic drug that requires a doctor's prescription. If used for purposes other than those approved, side effects such as anxiety, headaches, nausea, hallucinations, growth retardation, and increased heart rate may occur.
In this inspection, 18 posts illegally selling, brokering, or advertising pharmaceuticals containing propranolol, known as 'CSAT pills' or 'interview pills,' were also detected. This is the first time the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has conducted a special inspection on the illegal online distribution of pharmaceuticals such as propranolol targeting examinees and others.
Propranolol is a prescription drug in the beta-blocker class that blocks the action of the sympathetic nervous system, used for treating cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, angina pectoris, and hypertension. Side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, and bradycardia may occur upon ingestion.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety emphasized that pharmaceuticals illegally sold or brokered online have unclear origins, their safety and efficacy are not sufficiently verified, and there is a possibility they may be counterfeit drugs, so they should not be purchased.
In particular, purchasing ADHD treatments such as methylphenidate online, or taking medications prescribed or purchased by family members or acquaintances on one's behalf, constitutes a violation of the Act on Control of Narcotics.
Under the Act on Control of Narcotics, informing or presenting information to others about prohibited acts may be punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won. Illegal possession, use, sale, brokerage, or provision of psychotropic drugs is subject to penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "There are no study-enhancing drugs or CSAT pills," adding, "Going forward, we will strengthen inspections and take active measures to prevent consumer harm caused by posts illegally selling or brokering pharmaceuticals that attract high public attention during specific periods."
in THEBIO
