Addiction specialist Shurov appealed to parents of teenagers over veterinary drugs.

      13 January 2026 16:11 Society

      A dangerous trend is rapidly spreading among Russian zoomers: they order veterinary drugs through marketplaces and use them not as intended — they take them themselves in dangerous dosages for a narcotic effect.

      Psychiatrist and addiction specialist Vasily Shurov told 360.ru that gabapentin, which is used to relieve pain and seizures in animals, can cause euphoria in people. This is because the drug stimulates the production of dopamine — the pleasure hormone. In regular pharmacies, drugs containing gabapentin are sold strictly by prescription.

      Shurov noted that parents should be especially attentive to changes in their children's behavior. If a child becomes slowed down, their speech resembles that of a "drunk" person, and they almost completely refuse to eat, this may be a sign of using illicit substances.

      The doctor also emphasized that parents should analyze every peculiarity of their teenager's behavior. If a child acquires strange friends, money goes missing, problems with studies arise, or they begin to be frequently absent from home, this can also be a signal of possible problems.

      Shurov urged parents to build trusting relationships with their children and to explain to them the harms of drug use. He noted that it is important for teenagers to understand that using illicit substances can lead to serious consequences, including imprisonment or even death.

      The chair of the State Duma Committee on Family, Motherhood and Childhood, Nina Ostanina, has already proposed banning the sale through marketplaces of veterinary drugs containing gabapentin to teenagers. In her view, this may pose a danger to young people's health. Ozon has already removed such products from its storefront.

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