Addicts buying Schedule H drugs without prescription

Pune: Doctors from the city have observed a new trend of using Schedule H drugs as substance abuse. 

They said the drug ‘mephentermine sulphate’ is abused by youngsters between the age group of 12 years and 30 years. The Schedule H drug is commonly used for cardiac patients.

Schedule H drugs can only be bought with a prescription by a registered doctor.
 
However, drug addicts manage to buy them at a higher price than the MRP in the city.

Drug abuse can be life threatening
Speaking to Sakal Times on how mephentermine sulphate can affect a person’s body, Dr Hemant Kokane, cardiologist at Sassoon General Hospital, (SGH) said the drug is used in cardiac surgery.

“If the patient is experiencing a drop in blood pressure or low heart rate, we use the drug to stabilise him. The drug brings the blood pressure to normal. The effect of the drug, however, subsides in 15 to 20 minutes,” said Dr Kokane.

“If the drug is used very often and for a longer time, there are chances of heart failure,” added Dr Kokane.

Story of a young drug addict Narrating how he got addicted to the drug, a 22-year-old drug addict said he was introduced to the drug by his friends.

“The drug is taken through a syringe. However, initially, I opposed the use of drugs by my friend but later starting using them myself,” said the addict. 

He added that the drug was available at Rs 500 at any chemist in Market Yard and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas without any prescription. He said his friends, who work out at various gymnasiums, use this drug to work out more and harder.

He said it is a like a business model, where many buy the drug at Rs 500 and sell it at Rs 1,000 and so on.

How to help youngsters?
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Manjeet Santre, Head of Department of Psychiatry at the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, Pimpri Chinchwad, said usually substance abuse is associated with mental illness.

If there is a history of substance abuse like alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction, there is a need to keep a strict eye on children. In many families, there is a history of mental illness, which goes unnoticed due to substance abuse or alcohol addiction. In such cases, parents should keep an eye on the child’s behaviour and communicate with them often, said Dr Santre.

He added that young addicts often get irritated over small things. “Parents should keep a check if the daily routine of the child is changing; if the child is getting more irritated by even a small conversation. Mostly, they should communicate with the child first and keep the confidence. But, if things go out of hand, then the child should be taken to the hospital or a psychiatrist,” said Dr Santre.

Action By FDA
Speaking to Sakal Times, SB Patil, Joint Commissioner of Food And Drug Administration (FDA) said there have been no complaints from anyone regarding selling of this particular drug without prescription.
“However, if any complaints come, the FDA will take strict action against those who are not abiding by the rules,” said Patil.