Anyone heard of this?

Odysseus

Hi all,

Just when you think you have heard it all something always comes along, I encountered this the other night and I'm interested if any of the medical community have come across this before. I work as a psychotherapist in the Addiction Services and I happened to be having a smoke outside as I was getting ready to finish up on Wednesday night and two young girls approached me in the car park.

Anyway the clinic was a community clinic but myself and other HSE staff provide various services there, on that particular night I see clients who may be working and unable to attend for therapy during the day and there is also a needle exchange programme operating. The girls in question were a tad anxious but asked if there was a exchange programme there.

I told them there was and was chatting with them to try and make them more comfortable. Basic question, you have used needles before girls? They said yes and that they had got them from that clinic before. Then they told me that the wanted the needles to inject a tanning product [I guessing it has to be IM]. Being a tad baffled by this I directed them to the worker who deals with the exchange programme.

It wasn't the place to question them about what they were up too, and my role isn't to give out needles. I was heading off then so I didn't get the chance to talk to the worker in question about this practice, however, my partner informed me that this was common practice with the gay community and seemed to be quite popular.

So my question is have anyone come accross this practice of injecting tanning products? Is seems a tad unusal to me. I guessing some GPs may have encountered it in their own practices, but it was a new one for me.

Kevster

I am just wondering if they were maybe confused about what service they were looking for, because tanning 'injections' aren't yet common. What's more common as an injectable is Botox, which tightens the skin as you probably know already. However, something in the back of my mind is telling me that there was recently some research done about getting an injection that alters the melanocytes under the surface of the skin, making it appear more tanned.

Actually - yeh - here's something about it going back to 2004:

http://www.sunwellnessmag.com/hotnews/46h10113147.html

sillymoo

There was a thread about this before in Fashion and Appearance

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055450095

Odysseus

Kevster wrote: »

I am just wondering if they were maybe confused about what service they were looking for, because tanning 'injections' aren't yet common. What's more common as an injectable is Botox, which tightens the skin as you probably know already. However, something in the back of my mind is telling me that there was recently some research done about getting an injection that alters the melanocytes under the surface of the skin, making it appear more tanned.

Actually - yeh - here's something about it going back to 2004:

http://www.sunwellnessmag.com/hotnews/46h10113147.html

Cheers for that, they knew what they were looking for. We run a needle exchange programme on that night designed for IV drug users, certainly not for tanning.

Odysseus

sillymoo wrote: »

There was a thread about this before in Fashion and Appearance

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055450095

Cheers thanks for the link, it was an interesting discussion in that it was informative for me. I see a needle exchange programme is named in that thread, it seems like an abuse of the programme to be honest, well in my opinion inanyway. As I said above I not involved in the exchange side of things, but I certainly wouldn't stand over that handing spikes and barrels for that purpose.

Then again if people are going to do it inanyway it would at least stop them from sharing them, I suppose you just can't win.

DrIndy

it is amazing what people will inject into themselves - and not just junkies!

I had a patient who injected difene (diclofenac - a painkiller) and another who injected crushed valium "for a Buzzzzzz" and they ended up with horrific inflamed veins and abscesses!

Melanotan

Odysseus wrote: »

Cheers thanks for the link, it was an interesting discussion in that it was informative for me. I see a needle exchange programme is named in that thread, it seems like an abuse of the programme to be honest, well in my opinion inanyway. As I said above I not involved in the exchange side of things, but I certainly wouldn't stand over that handing spikes and barrels for that purpose.

Then again if people are going to do it inanyway it would at least stop them from sharing them, I suppose you just can't win.

It is actually probably a good thing that they're going to an exchange program. At least there they'll have a chance to hear about the very real dangers of using unlicensed drugs like the melanotan peptides. Unfortunately I think this current fad of using these drugs is due in large part to sellers passing these drugs off as safe and targeting casual users. I am seeing it more and more in online forums where shills selling the stuff come into a forum and pass themselves off as some curious individual wanting information about the peptides only to mention a company selling it (obviously their company) at some point in the discussion.
Folks really should be wary of anyone coming in touting the usage of the peptides as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Such individuals are liable to be financially motivated.

I sincerely hope the girls you are mentioning are being counseled in the exchange to stop what they are doing before they seriously do harm to themselves!

Odysseus

DrIndy wrote: »

it is amazing what people will inject into themselves - and not just junkies!

I had a patient who injected difene (diclofenac - a painkiller) and another who injected crushed valium "for a Buzzzzzz" and they ended up with horrific inflamed veins and abscesses!

Yeah Dalmane "dollies"is a popular one we see alot of bad abscesses with that particular one. Though years ago stuff like MST or rohypnol were more popular with clients, still happens with MST thought no where near the way it used to be. I have heard of people attempting to inject most opiates and benzos over the years.

Maybe because of my work this seems normal enough in that people will always chase the better buzz, or maybe a needle fixation but for tanning purposes it seems to be a "prick" too far.

Melanotan

Here's a fairly well written Irish Times article that discusses this trend:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2009/0304/1224242227580.html

Odysseus

Melanotan wrote: »

It is actually probably a good thing that they're going to an exchange program. At least there they'll have a chance to hear about the very real dangers of using unlicensed drugs like the melanotan peptides. Unfortunately I think this current fad of using these drugs is due in large part to sellers passing these drugs off as safe and targeting casual users. I am seeing it more and more in online forums where shills selling the stuff come into a forum and pass themselves off as some curious individual wanting information about the peptides only to mention a company selling it (obviously their company) at some point in the discussion.
Folks really should be wary of anyone coming in touting the usage of the peptides as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Such individuals are liable to be financially motivated.

I sincerely hope the girls you are mentioning are being counseled in the exchange to stop what they are doing before they seriously do harm to themselves!

Cheers for the info. I would be unawear of what procedures and the quality of information on this particular subject the staff who supply the exchange facilities who have so I'm not really in a position to comment on that. However, you got to remember the staff mostly deal with IV drug users and occassionally steroid users. I haven't seen the people who where on duty that night since then, so I haven't had the opportunity to clarify the issue.

However, as an aside its an issue that gets to me, the use of the word counselling in cases like this, a psychotherapist or a counsellor provide counselling. As such a person it would not be my place to be handing out needles, the worker would have I hope given them advised on the issue at hand, but this is different to counselling. Not having a go at you mate, but I think its an abuse of the word that is becoming more popular, counselling is a psychotherapeutic intervention and differs vastly from helpful advise. Off topic I know its just a personal bugbear of mine.

Melanotan

Odysseus wrote: »

Cheers for the info. I would be unawear of what procedures and the quality of information on this particular subject the staff who supply the exchange facilities who have so I'm not really in a position to comment on that. However, you got to remember the staff mostly deal with IV drug users and occassionally steroid users. I haven't seen the people who where on duty that night since then, so I haven't had the opportunity to clarify the issue.

However, as an aside its an issue that gets to me, the use of the word counselling in cases like this, a psychotherapist or a counsellor provide counselling. As such a person it would not be my place to be handing out needles, the worker would have I hope given them advised on the issue at hand, but this is different to counselling. Not having a go at you mate, but I think its an abuse of the word that is becoming more popular, counselling is a psychotherapeutic intervention and differs vastly from helpful advise. Off topic I know its just a personal bugbear of mine.

I'm not using the term "counseling" in the sense you're speaking of but I understand your concerns.

My usage was more in accord with definitions 1, 9 and 10 found here:
http://dictionary.reference.com/dic?q=counsel&search=search

If you want to better inform yourself of what is happening (and perhaps the staff at the exchange) get yourself an example of and print yourself up copies of this British Medical Journal editorial letter:

17 February 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b566
BMJ 2009;338:b566 Use of melanotan I and II in the general population.

Odysseus

Cheers thanks for that reference.

Melanotan

Odysseus wrote: »

Cheers thanks for that reference.

You're welcome.

etymon

Odysseus, I just really liked this part of your post:

I work as a psychotherapist in the Addiction Services and I happened to be having a smoke outside...

Lol! Hope you don't mind me being cheeky
I suffer from the same addiction!

AmcD

The Irish medicines board sent a letter to GPs warning that this drug was doing the rounds on the internet. I haven't yet seen anybody who has admitted to trying it.

By the way, I have to ask- Melanotan (the poster) why are you called this? You don't even seem keen on the product?

Melanotan

AmcD wrote: »

By the way, I have to ask- Melanotan (the poster) why are you called this? You don't even seem keen on the product?

I run a forum about the melanotan peptides. They are interesting drugs and I believe they hold great promise to benefit humankind (really all melanocortin peptides) but certainly not in the current form in which they've become popular.

I am one of most informed individuals in the world about these drugs and it is my interest that accurate and helpful information spreads about them.
Folks who profit off of sales of them using unethical means do a great disservice to this spirit as through their behavior and tactics they spread a false image about these drugs and thereby setup negative connotations in the public's eye relative to them. I do not nor have I ever profited from sales of these drugs and have only provided an area where folks can discuss them in a general sense and also discuss their usage. I am interested in seeing accurate and factual warnings spread about these drugs so that the sales targeting of casual users with these unethical means will tend to fall flat.

There is an ethical, approved, regulated and doctor administered version of these two drugs (melanotan-1 "afamelanotide") on the horizon:

Suntan Drug Greenlighted for Trials

It's been developed into a bioabsorbable subcutaneous implant and is currently undergoing human trials as a potential medicine for a series of skin indications (with potential cosmetic applications in the future).

Odysseus

etymon wrote: »

Odysseus, I just really liked this part of your post:

I work as a psychotherapist in the Addiction Services and I happened to be having a smoke outside...

Lol! Hope you don't mind me being cheeky
I suffer from the same addiction!

The stable diet in the Addiction Services is caffeine and nictoine:o

Jessica xxx

Melanotan wrote: »

I run a forum about the melanotan peptides. They are interesting drugs and I believe they hold great promise to benefit humankind (really all melanocortin peptides) but certainly not in the current form in which they've become popular.

I am one of most informed individuals in the world about these drugs and it is my interest that accurate and helpful information spreads about them.
Folks who profit off of sales of them using unethical means do a great disservice to this spirit as through their behavior and tactics they spread a false image about these drugs and thereby setup negative connotations in the public's eye relative to them. I do not nor have I ever profited from sales of these drugs and have only provided an area where folks can discuss them in a general sense and also discuss their usage. I am interested in seeing accurate and factual warnings spread about these drugs so that the sales targeting of casual users with these unethical means will tend to fall flat.

There is an ethical, approved, regulated and doctor administered version of these two drugs (melanotan-1 "afamelanotide") on the horizon:

Suntan Drug Greenlighted for Trials

It's been developed into a bioabsorbable subcutaneous implant and is currently undergoing human trials as a potential medicine for a series of skin indications (with potential cosmetic applications in the future).

So is the Tan Injection drug ever going to be legal in Ireland or completly safe to use??
Two of my friends use it on a regular basis and there fine, they look great to, plus when your using the injection there is little to no need for the sunbed (which is worse for you)
What will happen to them from using it??

Bottle_of_Smoke

Worth mentioning that anyone who uses this will be banned for life from donating blood, as with injecting all non-prescription drugs