A pharmacist has issued a warning for 4.8million people taking drugs including diazepam or alprazolam in the UK. New research by Oxford Online Pharmacy found a fifth of adults have obtained prescription-only medication illegally. And anti-anxiety drugs are the most common.

Using the latest estimates, this could be up to 4.8 million adults. A further 10% said they have been offered illegal medication from an unlicensed source, like an online seller, a salon or corner shop, or via family and friends, but didn’t take it.

A nationally representative sample of UK adults were asked if they have bought, received or have been offered medication from an unlicensed (and therefore illegal) source. Of the people who said yes, over a third (35%) obtained anti-anxiety medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and benzodiazepines like Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam).

Online sellers, including unlicensed online pharmacies, are the most common source of black-market medication. In June 2025, as part of INTERPOL’s Operation Pangea, the MHRA seized almost 8 million doses of illegal medicines.

Kiran Jones, Clinical Pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy issues an urgent warning to those considering or are taking black market anti-anxiety medication: “Anxiety is the most common mental health condition globally. It’s estimated that 4% to 5% of people in the world have an anxiety disorder at any given time. It is therefore unsurprising that there is a growing black market for anti-anxiety medication, alongside those prescribed legally by health professionals. But it is very concerning.

“Some illegally obtained benzodiazepines look like prescription medicines but are counterfeit pills that may contain dangerous or lethal levels of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and other potent substances. There is also a high risk of dependency with these types of drugs, especially when taken long-term. The body can build up a tolerance to them, which means users may need to take higher doses to get the same effect, leading to dependence.

“There is no safe way to take prescription-only medication from an unlicensed source, even if it is given to you by a family member or friend. The black market for medication sits outside of regulation and has no oversight, making it extremely dangerous. There are also financial risks from sharing credit card and identity information, as well as personal safety risks if a person becomes involved with a criminal network as the supplier, whether knowingly or not.

“There’s a reason you can only take some anti-anxiety medications with medical supervision and a legal prescription. If you’re considering any medication that isn’t accessible through professional medical consultation, there are some red flags to watch out for."

Medication appearance

If you have taken anti-anxiety medication before, you might notice changes in size or shape to what was prescribed to you. If you haven’t double check online what the legitimate medication should look like and what dosages are standard.

You may also notice misspellings of the product name, manufacturer or main ingredients, or aesthetic differences to the packaging. This can be one of the biggest tell-tale signs of a counterfeit product.

Packaging should also be sealed. It it’s open, appears tampered with, or just doesn’t look right, do not take the medicine.

Medication quality

Legitimate medication will have a uniform factory-made appearance. Tablets shouldn’t be cracked, have a raised coating, or be crumbly when handled. You may notice mould inside packaging or jars which should be treated as suspicious.

You have to pay in cash or via bank transfer

Legitimate pharmacies and healthcare providers accept secure, traceable payment methods. Cash or bank transfer requests are a common tactic among illegal sellers to avoid detection and create an untraceable transaction trail.

This makes it incredibly difficult to track fraud, report sellers, or seek support if there’s a problem. If you have found a provider online, such as an online pharmacy, and aren’t sure whether it is legitimate, check it is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council before purchasing. The UK Government’s FakeMeds campaign page also provides useful information about how to spot suspicious online sellers.

You got it via social media, online forums, or from an unverified individual

Prescription medications should only be supplied by licensed medical professionals and regulated pharmacies. If you’re being offered a weight loss jab through TikTok or any other platform, it’s highly unlikely to be a safe or legal source. There is no way to verify what the product contains, whether it's been stored correctly or if it's been tampered with.

If you suspect a medicine is fake, do not take it. Report it directly to the MHRA using its Yellow Card scheme. If you are experiencing negative side effects from any medicine, whether it is prescribed to you legally or illegally, see your doctor, a pharmacist or nurse. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 999.