The human brain and body are among the most complicated and intricately-organised systems in the universe.
Drugs which are prescribed to alleviate symptoms of illness such as pain can induce pleasurable feelings when taken in the absence of disease and this rewarding feeling can lead to the repeated use of the substance. As the brain and body adjust physiologically to the presence of the drug, addiction manifests as the development of tolerance to – and habitual use of – the drug.
Therefore, in order to prevent the growing problem of codeine-based cough syrups being used as narcotic drugs, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has asked the Drug Controller General of India to ‘substantially reduce’ the availability of the same.
The NCB says these formulations, which are widely available, are being abused and their availability must be substantially reduced in order to identify their movement in the market.
In the direction, the governing body had also earlier this year seized pharmaceutical formulations such as codeine-based cough syrups like Phensedyl and Corex and tramadol preparations such as Spasmoproxyvon Plus from smugglers along the India-Bangladesh border. The bottles were to be smuggled into Bangladesh, where these cough syrups are banned and selling them is
punishable.Taking a cue from the way alcoholic beverages such as beer are sold, NCB suggests that these pharmaceutical preparations be sold “state wise” according to specific batch/lot sizes and that this information should be printed on their labels, according to a letter written by NCB to the drug regulator in July.
“It has been seen that pharmaceutical preparations including codeine-based cough syrups, tramadol preparations, etc., are being abused and the same are being seized by various drug law enforcement agencies. During the investigation of the cases the point of diversion could not be established as the lot size of drugs is big and same lot size is distributed to many stockists/distributors in different states. It is suggested that the batch/lot size of these formulations must be reduced substantially in order to identify the exact points of diversions from authorised channels for unauthorised abuse. Additionally the diversion points will be effectively blocked and easily identifiable,” said the letter urging the DCGI.
“The suggestions by the NCB which wants tighter controls so that it is not misused and the industry lobby will be deliberated in DCC,” said a senior official in DCGI office.
The final decisions will be taken after the issue is deliberated at the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting slated for 18 September. Chaired by the DCGI, the DCC is attended by all the state drug controllers.
