Oh, oh, oh, it’s magic! A beloved mid ‘70s classic turned advertising earworm. You’ve probably heard this tune in the form of a jingle promoting the GLP-1 Ozempic. Originally created to help individuals with type two diabetes manage their blood sugar and overall health, this ‘miracle drug’ would be found to have the highly sought-after side effect of suppressing one’s appetite, with users shedding up to 15% of their body weight over the course of a year. Ozempic would soon become available to the public, with celebrities and the average American alike jumping on the bandwagon to shed a few pounds and achieve their ideal physiques. However, this craze would soon give way to something much darker, revealing the seedy underbelly of the peptide market.
‘GLP’ is an abbreviation for a glucagen-like peptide. According to Medical News Today, peptides are “short strings of amino acids” that occur naturally in plant and animal products, but there are also “bioactive peptides…that can have a beneficial effect on the body and may positively impact human health.” GLP-1’s, the alleged ‘miracle weight-loss drugs,’ are examples of these bioactive peptides. However, peptides have been used for more than just weight loss.
Collagen peptides have anti-aging properties that aid in skin, hair and nail health, creatine peptides can enhance muscle growth and strength, specialized peptides for healing of muscles and tendons and even peptides that solely serve aesthetic purposes such as tanning your skin or preventing wrinkles. Upon hearing all of this, you may be inclined to question why peptides are even a problem in the first place. I mean, it sounds like this might be the miracle drug we’ve been waiting for! If we can solve all of our insecurities with a couple injections, why wouldn’t we? Well, when something sounds too good to be true, then it’s probably not, as is the case with peptides.
Dr. Anthony Tam from the American Medical Association explains, “…newer peptides that are not FDA‑approved carry additional risks related to possible contamination, safety, sourcing and dosing…particularly in the grey market where products are manufactured without FDA oversight…some of these newer injectable peptides are being sold at wellness spas, online sites and through the grey market for unapproved GLP‑1s, which raises additional safety concerns.” However, these aren’t the only peptide problems plaguing our nation.
Young people are becoming increasingly insecure about themselves in the age of the internet. When lives are lived exclusively on screen, it’s not a shock that physical appearances are becoming increasingly more important, and online scrutiny can drive insecurity to dark places. Not unlike the eating disorders that characterized the ‘heroin chic’ aesthetic of the ‘90s and early 2000s, teens will go to desperate lengths to change their appearances in order to fit the ideal, and the quick fix that they’re looking for? Peptides. Want to lose a few pounds? Inject some peptides. Too pale? Peptides. Too skinny? Peptides. Peptides have become the one-and-done solution bandaid for insecurity, and this has created dangerous situations for many young individuals.
Because of this sudden boom in the peptide industry, many people have sought to take advantage of this to make some money. Social media influencers have begun promoting these injectable drugs on their pages, marketing them towards their child audiences as ‘for research only’ while simultaneously claiming that they ‘fixed all their insecurities.’ Not unlike drug peddlers, they often dress up their wares, offering ‘curated blends’ and cute packaging. Not only is this method of sale highly predatory, but it’s also failed to receive any significant amount of public attention until fairly recently.
As of May 27, 2026, the state of Alabama has issued an alert to the public, telling them to exercise caution in regard to ‘research-grade’ peptides. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission issued a statement, explaining, “Physicians must purchase all prescription products, drugs, and ingredients from an entity permitted by the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy. All drugs administered or dispensed to a patient must be prescription quality; therefore, under no circumstances is it permissible for a physician to compound, administer, or dispense a non-FDA approved or research grade peptide to a patient.”
Alabama’s public message is a step in the right direction, but in an ideal world that would have been a nation-wide PSA: please don’t inject any product you’ve procured through social media. Or from anyone that isn’t a trusted physician, for that matter. If you are of age and interested in a FDA-approved GLP-1, make sure to have a thorough discussion with your doctor beforehand. If you’re a teenager that harbors insecurities about your appearance, please know that you are not alone. What you’re feeling is completely normal and valid, and you can rest easy knowing that your appearance is likely to change drastically over the next couple of years. The next time you run into someone advertising peptides on their social media page, make sure to block and report their account.
