Rubifen, a cheaper and easier-to-obtain cocaine.
Rubifen or methylphenidate is known as poor man’s cocaine due to its nearly identical effects. It is a psychostimulant medication similar to amphetamines, and an increasing number of people are consuming it behind doctors’ backs. It is a legal medication, but when misused, it serves as a substitute for cocaine that is much cheaper and easier to obtain.
Support for families regarding medication abuse
It is prescribed for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and is widely used as a stimulant drug. It is primarily used by young people during exam periods for studying, but also for partying.
Treatment for dual pathology and addictions
Some of the most common side effects that Rubifen can cause as a stimulant medication for ADHD include sleep problems, decreased appetite, weight loss, increased blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, stomach aches, irritability, and bad moods when the medication’s effect wears off, as well as nervousness. It also primarily causes the side effects of amphetamines: tachycardia, anxiety, jaw tension… Abusing this drug puts significant pressure on the body and strain on the heart, which can be fatal.
Medical monitoring in stimulant addictions
Through the Internet, this medication is relatively easy to obtain, but it is a risk. Many medications sold on fraudulent websites can be counterfeit. Often, what is sold under a certain name is not actually what they claim, and it can be dangerous.
In other countries, the misuse of methylphenidate is more common. However, in Spain, these types of psychostimulant drugs are increasingly on the rise and can lead to addiction, among the other side effects mentioned above.
The case of the pharmacist from Castellbisbal
This past November, this drug was publicly discussed again due to the arrest of a man in Castellbisbal, Catalonia. He was stealing Rubifen tablets, taking advantage of his position as a night shift supervisor at a pharmacy. He would take bags of tablets that did not meet manufacturing standards from the rejection bin and subsequently take them home to sell online.
