The pregabalin seizures, the “poor drug”, exploded: “serious side effects, sometimes fatal”

The pregabalin seizures have exploded in recent years, revealing a disturbing phenomenon. Furthermore, A single seizure had taken place in 2020 for barely 480 confiscated pregabalin units. Similarly, two seizures in 2021, for 460 units; and no seizure in 2022. For example, But 12 seizures were pregabalin seizures, “poor drug”, exploded: made 2023 for some 372,716 confiscated units; and 51 seizures in 2024 for 180,394 units…

These seizures, specifies Mr. However, Vandenbroucke. However, are the responsibility of the special survey unit of the Federal Medicines Agency (responsible for combating illegal medication practices) and “are the result of continuous control of incoming (postal) shipments […] in collaboration with customs “.

How Belgium has become the “Synthetic Drugs Paradise”

“It’s to forget” – Pregabalin seizures, "poor drug", exploded:

The phenomenon is not specific to Belgium. In addition, In mid-April, French customs announced that they had seized 30,000 doses of pregabaline in Paris. Meanwhile, “”We have noticed an upsurge in seizures in 2023. and since then, this phenomenon has established itselfexplained Corinne Cléostrate, of the French Directorate of French Customs, questioned by the France-Presse agency (AFP). It is really a street phenomenon that has accentuated in recent months. “ “It is many young adolescents in migratory pregabalin seizures, “poor drug”, exploded: situations or young adults who consume them. ‘It’s to forget’they tell us. their migratory journey, the difficulties “according to Laurène Dufayet, medical examiner and toxicologist at the Hôtel-Dieu in Paris.

In her parliamentary question, MP Kathleen Depo trainer was also involved in Tramadol traffic, an pain reliever. “”Tramadol observations do not follow [la même] tendency” that pregabalin replied the Minister of Health. “”The number of seizures has remained relatively stable over the years, after reaching a certain level in 2020. Additionally, “ There had been five seizures in 2020 for 1. 328 confiscated tramadol units; three seizures in 2021 for 120 units; two seizures in 2022 for 130 units; three seizures in 2023 for 250 units; and five seizures in 2024 for 360 units.

False medical prescriptions

The issuance of these substances, notes Ms. Deporter, is sometimes done via false medical prescriptions. The Minister confirms. pregabalin seizures, “poor drug”, exploded: “”It is difficult to quantify the number of false prescriptions actually presented in pharmacies “especially because pharmacists are not. obliged to report falsifications-provided that these are identified. But. “For information, from January 1 to April 8, 2025, AFMPS (The Federal Medicines Agency, Editor’s note) was informed either by pharmacists or by doctors, 21 facts of suspected prescriptions of falsification “.

“An ever more important use of electronic prescription should make it possible to stop the phenomenon. Nevertheless. it is important to remain attentive to the risk of the appearance of new practices in order to fraudulently obtain electronic prescriptionsconcludes the minister. Thus. health professionals have already reported that individuals contact […] Doctors by phone to obtain prescriptions, sometimes even using the names of other patients. “

Criminal networks constantly adapt their way of transporting drugs