Times
are progressing. In addition to hard drugs, medicines
like dextropropoxyphene (sold under brand names like
PROXYVON and SPASMO-PROXYVON) and diazepam (VALIUM,
CALMPOSE) are becoming increasingly popular with
youngsters for recreational purpose. Globally, estimates
reveal that an alarming 221 of every 1000 people are
abusing sedative drugs. The habit is catching on in
India. Deaths are being reported from overdoses of
sedatives in increasing numbers. The dangers do not end
with the abuser alone. Abuse, for instance by drivers,
can endanger road safety and put passengers of vehicles
and pedestrians at risk.
Misuse of pharmaceutical preparations is fast becoming a
major public health problem in India and will probably
exceed narcotic addiction in prevalence. What are the
reasons for this malady? Psychiatrists feel that a large
part of the responsibility lies with ‘chemist’
shops which are resorting to open over-the-counter sale
of these drugs in total violation of the law.
Prescription slips are unnecessary rubbish. The abuser
also gets these drugs at a fraction of the cost that he
would have to bear for narcotics and other hard drugs.
Physicians have become cautious with the use of
habit-producing drugs and by and large do not prescribe
them for trivial purposes. Availability of newer and
safer analgesic drugs means that sedating and addictive
analgesics are not prescribed that often now. Yet, these
medicines are becoming increasingly and immensely popular
on the street. Easy availability is a prime factor,
perpetuated by the unscrupulousness of drug sellers who
will sell anything to anybody for profit and the usual
indifference of the regulatory authorities who prefer to
turn a blind eye. This is just one manifestation of the
peculiar situation in India today where all medicines
have been transformed to the status of over-the-counter
preparations. Unless the general public becomes aware and
the administrative machinery wakes up to the situation
and takes remedial measures, including exemplary
punishments to pharmacy establishments who sell
prescription-only drugs without prescriptions and without
keeping proper records, the problem would persist and
intensify. The social cost is anybody's guess.
Source: The
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Apr 15, 1999.
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