Board of Medical Examiners Issues Alert as Social Media Drives Rise in Peptide Use

From the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

May 26

MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners is warning Alabama physicians and other licensed medical professionals not to prescribe, dispense, administer or recommend non-FDA approved “research-grade” peptides, citing patient safety concerns and growing public interest driven in part by social media influencers and online wellness trends.

The Board issued an official alert to physicians across Alabama reminding them that research-grade peptides are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for human use and are not subject to FDA oversight for safety, effectiveness, manufacturing quality or consistency.

“Patients are increasingly exposed to online marketing that can blur the line between legitimate medicine and unregulated products. Many patients may not realize research-grade peptides are not approved for human use,” said Dr. Max Rogers, Chair of the Board of Medical Examiners. “When a substance has not gone through FDA review, there is no reliable way to verify what it actually is, how it was manufactured or what risks it may pose. Our responsibility is to protect patients and ensure medical professionals uphold the high standards required under Alabama law.”

Peptides have gained increasing attention online through influencers and social media personalities promoting claims related to muscle growth, anti-aging, weight loss, skin health and athletic performance. National media outlets, including a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, have highlighted growing use among teenagers and young adults seeking physical enhancement.

The Board’s alert emphasizes that physicians in Alabama must purchase all prescription drugs and ingredients from properly permitted entities and that all medications administered or dispensed to patients must meet prescription-quality standards.

Under Alabama law, physicians, Physician Assistants (PAs), Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs) and Certified Nurse Mid-wives (CNMs) are prohibited from prescribing, administering, dispensing, recommending or supplying non-FDA approved research-grade peptides to patients.

The Board also cautioned that patient consent forms or waivers describing a substance as “research-grade” do not eliminate a provider’s professional responsibilities or legal obligations.

The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners said it remains committed to protecting the health and safety of Alabama patients and expects all practitioners to comply fully with state law and professional standards of care.