Pharmacists are worried a surge in non-regulated peptide use has been contributing to a shortage in syringes used for life-saving medications.
Health New Zealand warned that peptides promoted on social media for their supposed weight loss, anti-ageing and muscle-building benefits could carry significant risks.
But despite the warnings, New Zealanders were still using them.
Kelvin Lim, from Hataitai Pharmacy, told 1News there had been a huge increase in requests for diabetic syringes over the last few months from people who claimed to use peptides.
"We were selling the diabetic ones because they are the only ones that can draw a smaller volume," Lim said.
He said the increased demand had contributed to shortages, affecting people who needed the syringes to administer life-saving medication.
"Often we will ask them to seek other places that might have the stock because for us it was quite hard to get the items ourselves."
Another Wellington pharmacist said they had three to four people a week requesting insulin syringes and needles to inject unregulated peptides.
Health NZ said it had rolled out free peptide-specific injection kits in a bid to ease the pressure on supplies and reduce injection-related harm.
Group manager of population health Bronwyn Petrie said more than 2000 kits had been distributed since mid-September through needle exchange providers and around 190 pharmacies.
Each peptide kit contains equipment including syringes, needles, a returns container, and an information leaflet.
"Our focus is on reducing preventable harm and ensuring people have access to accurate information and safer injecting equipment," Petrie said.
Lim said their introduction had been a "big relief" for pharmacists.
He added the kits were also important because some people using peptides might not know how to inject themselves safely.
"We know that if we don't supply that particular item, then they might run the risk of reusing needles, and that is a big health risk."
Health New NZ said while the kits were important for harm reduction, their introduction did not mean it endorsed the use of unapproved peptides.
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