They promise weight loss, younger-looking skin, faster recovery and bigger muscles. Across social media, influencers are promoting unapproved peptides to millions of people, often telling followers what to inject and where to buy it.
ABC News Loop reporter Blair Wise has followed the money and traced Australia's booming peptide black market back through online sellers, influencers and a network of suppliers in China.
Blair and the ABC News team identified more than 50 businesses claiming to sell peptides not approved for human use to Australians. Influencers can earn thousands of dollars promoting them, while one black-market dealer told the ABC his operation was once processing as many as 2,000 orders a week. The ABC could not independently verify his claims about the size or finances of his business.
At the same time, reports of serious medical complications linked to unapproved peptides are rising. In this documentary, Blair investigates what's driving the peptide boom, who is profiting from it and what may actually be inside the vials being injected by Australians.
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-07/peptide-black-market-led-by-social-media-influencers/107217418
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