Home / Health / UK parents turn to secret deals for children's sleep
UK parents turn to secret deals for children's sleep
28 Feb
Summary
- Parents illegally obtain melatonin for children's sleep.
- Prescriptions are difficult to obtain through NHS channels.
- Unregulated online sellers pose risks due to inaccurate labeling.
Many parents in the UK are turning to the black market for melatonin, a synthetic sleep hormone, due to difficulties in obtaining prescriptions through the NHS. These parents engage in secretive exchanges or purchase from unregulated online sources to help their children sleep.
While melatonin is available over-the-counter in countries like the US and Canada, its use in the UK is restricted, typically only prescribed by specialists for children with ADHD or autism. Medical professionals express caution due to insufficient research on long-term side effects in children.
Parents report facing dead ends with GPs, leading them to seek alternatives. Concerns are rising about the safety of products bought online, as investigations have found varying and sometimes dangerously high dosages, with some even mislabeled as drug-free. This situation highlights a significant gap between parental need and official healthcare accessibility regarding sleep aids for children.
