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Sat, June 10, 2023 | 16:30
-------------------------
Celebrities questioned for abuse of propofol
또 유명 女배우들이… 연예계 발칵
Posted : 2013-01-24 19:19
Updated : 2013-01-24 19:19
Yi Whan-woo
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By Yi Whan-woo

Jang Mi-in-ae Lee Seung-yeon
Jang Mi-in-ae
Jang Mi-in-ae Lee Seung-yeon
Lee Seung-yeon
Prosecutors said Wednesday that they have launched a wide-scale investigation into celebrities allegedly involved in the illegal use of the narcotic propofol.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said it will summon actress Lee Seung-yeon, 44, this week for questioning over allegations she repeatedly took the drug at plastic surgery and dermatology clinics for non-medical purposes.

The office added it already questioned actress Jang Mi-in-ae, 28, as a part of the probe into celebrities who were on lists of customers it acquired from hospitals it raided. The analgesic drug is used to induce sedation and to alleviate pain during surgery.

However, rumors have spread that a number of female singers and actresses as well as hostesses working at bars have used the drug when they were stressed out or had insomnia.

A scandal rocked the country last summer when a hostess in her 20s was found dead after she was given an overdose of a cocktail of drugs including propofol by a doctor who was having an extramarital affair with her.

Lee and Jang are among the female celebrities on the lists that the prosecution confiscated in December from seven hospitals in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, one of the most affluent districts in Seoul where a number of cosmetic surgery and dermatology clinics are located.

Jang reportedly denied the allegations against her, claiming she took propofol for medical purpose only.

Lee, who was one of the most highlighted actresses in the 1990s, was not available for comment.

The prosecution, however, said they have obtained hard evidence to prove their allegations against her.

"We also have testimony from witnesses at the hospitals that they regularly visited to get the drug," an investigator said.

The prosecution also has been questioning doctors and nurses at cosmetic surgeries across the country about injecting prescription medication illegally, since summer last year.

One of the latest cases took place in October when the prosecutors arrested 10 doctors and nurses for selling propofol to hostesses in Gangnam.


또 유명 女배우들이… 연예계 발칵

'프로포폴'이 또 다시 연예계를 발칵 뒤집었다.  

서울중앙지검 강력부(부장 박성진)가 탤런트 장미인애(29)씨를 프로포폴 불법 투약 혐의(마약류 관리법 위반)로 소환해 조사한 사실이 24일 드러났다. 검찰은 같은 혐의를 받고 있는 탤런트 이승연(45)씨도 이번 주 내로 소환할 예정이다. 지난해 4월 방송인 에이미(32)씨는 프로포폴을 불법 투약한 사실이 밝혀져 징역 8월에 집행유예 2년을 선고받은 바 있다.

프로포폴은 전 세계에서 가장 많이 쓰이는 정맥 주사용 수면마취제다. 중추신경을 빠르게 억제해 통증을 느끼지 않게 하는 약물이다. 뇌에서 수면 신호를 주는 물질인 감마아미노뷰티르산(GABA)과 기분을 좋게 하는 도파민 수치를 높이는데, 진정 효과가 뛰어나 안정적인 마취 상태를 유도한다.  

도파민의 효과 때문에 우울증과 불면증, 불안감에 시달리는 일부 연예인 사이에선 프로포폴을 투약하면 짧은 시간에 마음을 진정하고 숙면 효과를 볼 수 있다는 얘기가 퍼졌다. 서울 강남 일대에서 '피로회복 주사' '칵테일 주사'로 불리며 유행하고 있다.  

정상적인 의료행위라면 환자들은 도파민이 주는 쾌락을 느끼지 못하고 중독성도 없다. 하지만 환각효과를 얻기 위해 잠이 들지 않을 만큼 소량만 주입하거나 반복 사용하면 중독에 이르게 된다. 중독자들은 “초기에는 투약 후 피로회복감이 오래 지속되지만 반복될수록 회복감이 사라지는 시간이 짧아져 더 자주 맞게 된다”고 입을 모은다.  

프로포폴을 과다 투약해 사망한 마이클 잭슨은 평소 이 약을 '우유(milk)'라고 불렀다. 물에 잘 녹지 않는 성질을 가지고 있어 대두유에 혼합해 정맥에 직접 투약하기 때문에 흰색을 띈다. 미국에서 프로포폴은 기억상실증 우유(milk of amnesia)라는 별칭도 갖고 있다.  

프로포폴의 맛에 길들여진 사람들은 강력한 중독 증세를 보인다. 혈압 저하 현상을 비롯해 두통, 어지러움, 단기 기억상실, 구토, 경련 증상이 일어날 수 있다.  

지난해 8월 프로포폴을 훔친 혐의로 경찰에 잡혔던 A(32)씨는 팔뚝과 손등, 팔목에 벌집처럼 수십 개의 주삿바늘 자국이 있어 주변을 놀라게 했다. A씨의 차량 안에는 피 묻은 주사기와 유리로 만든 프로포폴 앰플이 널브러져 있었다. A씨는 좀비처럼 병원을 옮겨 다니며 한 달에 20여 차례 프로포폴을 맞다가 급기야 병원에서 약물을 훔치기에 이르렀다. 그는 '제발 프로포폴을 끊게 해달라. 이 약을 끊으려고 자살까지 시도했다'고 경찰에 고백했다.  

식품의약품안전청은 2011년부터 프로포폴을 향정신성의약품(마약류)로 지정해 관리하고 있다. 프로포폴이 마약류로 지정된 것은 한국이 처음이다. 미국은 2009년부터 프로포폴을 통제물질로 지정해 관리하고 있다.
Emailyistory@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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