Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Prescription medicines top intoxicant pile available to addicts by Ashok Pradhan

Prescription medicines top intoxicant pile available to addicts by Ashok Pradhan

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Feb 11, 2012   modified Modified on Feb 11, 2012

The recent toxic liquor tragedy killing 33 persons in Cuttack and Khurda districts has brought to the spotlight at least eight types of medicines being misused by addicts in various parts of the state.

The latest deaths occurred due to methyl alcohol in Epee-Carm Carminative and concentrated Cinnamon water. That may be a routine misuse going horribly wrong, because ethyl alcohol got replaced by methyl alcohol and the latter is poisonous.

Doctors associated with de-addiction medication said abuse of cough syrups (codeine), anti-depressants, sleeping tablets, inhalants, anti-spasmodic, tonics, Opioid pain relievers and stimulants for intoxication is widely prevalent in the state.

Dr Surjeet Sahoo, a psychiatrist and de-addiction specialist, said cough syrups are perhaps the most widely used intoxicants by addicts. "We get lots of teenaged patients addicted to cough syrups. It contains codeine, which has a sedative effect," Dr Sahoo said. Cough syrups are cheap but very addictive. Their side effects may include slowed or arrested breathing, lowered pulse and blood pressure, coma and even death. Risk of death increases if the addicts combine it with alcohol, he said. The doctor pointed out cases of people consuming ointments, nail polish, nail removers, glues and snorting petrol for intoxication are not uncommon either.

Dr Arpita Priyadarshi, a physiologist at VSS Medical College and Hospital, said anti-spasmodics, which women use to reduce period pains or muscle spasms, are among popular intoxicants being widely misused these days as well. "In a serious health risk, people make heady cocktail of such drugs and lose their normal sleep cycle. It is an emerging problem," she said.

Doctors attributed the misuse to sale of 'schedule H' drugs without doctors' prescription. Chemists are happy to sell any medicine over the counter, making all drugs available to substance abusers, a doctor said.

Utkal Chemists and Druggists Association president Ram Gopal Agarwal said the association is trying to reduce over the counter sale of prescription medicines. "We have asked all our member chemists to adhere to the rule book and not sell any such medicines over the counter without prescription. No deviation has come to my notice," Agarwal said. The association will take stringent action if it detects chemists selling such drugs without prescription. The penalty may include expulsion from the association, he added.

The Times of India, 11 February, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Prescription-medicines-top-intoxicant-pile-available-to-addicts/articleshow/11844491.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close