Cheap ecstasy-style party drug used by Putin's soldiers becoming problem in UK

19 August 2023 , 15:56

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Phenibut costs as little as 39p per gram (Image: Getty Images)

A cheap party drug originally developed for Russian astronauts is becoming a problem in the UK.

Phenibut can give ecstasy-style highs and is a growing concern for drug charities, which fear more and more users are becoming addicted. The anti-anxiety drug was developed in the 1960s to help cosmonauts and military in the then Soviet Union handle pressure. It became more popular – and accessible – in recent years after being adopted by soldiers in Vladimir Putin ’s army.

Phenibut costs as little as 39p per gram when bought in bulk, typically on the dark web, and its side-effects include hallucinations, tremors and depression. The UK Addiction Treatment Centre has had calls from users who fear they are hooked.

Dale Conlon

Dale Conlon, head of admissions, said: “Calls for help with Phenibut addiction have come out of nowhere recently as previously we have never had a single call about this drug being a problem. Now we’re getting a call a week. But after researching the drug, our clinicians found that it has been cited to have been used as an anti-anxiety agent for Russian military.

"This all makes us extremely concerned because it means there has been, for some time, a clear and established supply chain of this illegal Russian drug for some time in the UK, and now, treatment centres like ours are starting to see the fall-out.”

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Officials confirmed Phenibut is not covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act, so its possession is not illegal. The Home Office did not comment.

Dominik Lemanski