[Drug of abuse].

Abstract

Recent development of various dietary supplements after enforcement of "Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)" in the USA enabled better availability of the products through the Internet in Japan as well. Because of differences in the definitions of the term "dietary supplement" and drug control laws between the USA and Japan, health risks due to uncontrolled use of a drug-based foreign dietary supplement without a medical doctor's advice, and side effects due to co-administration of any problematic supplements with prescription drugs has become a problem in Japan. Classes of typical dietary supplements, the method of distribution, and known problems during use or overuse of these products with prescription drugs are discussed. Several recent positive cases are known to be due to the use of contaminated food supplements, which were sold not only to athletes but also to the general public as memory enhancing or anti-aging drugs. These phenomena indicate that trends in drug use in sports and in society becoming increasingly similar.