Sale of low-potency pregabalin goes unabated

In 2024, the district magistrates banned sale of pregabalin beyond 75 mg across the state, with an aim to curb its misuse by addicts.

However, there’s a long list of pharmaceutical drugs being ‘used’ by addicts to get a high, including tramadol, alprazolam, diazepam, fortwin, proxyvon and buprenorphine, which is given as medicine at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centers. These medicines are either used singularly or as a concoction with other drugs.

Since these drugs come under the ambit of the NDPS Act, they are hard to source from chemists as compared to pregabalin.

Though the state government has launched “Yudh Nashian Virudh”, the addicts seem to be in no dearth of “goli gatta”. While a “nug” (small sachet) of “chitta” costs Rs 200, a tablet of buprenorphine can be purchased for Rs 100 in black market. Interestingly, tall claims by the government to check drug prevalence failed to show any results on the ground, as addicts are still able to manage their daily dose of “chitta” or “goli gatta”.

“Most addicts shift from “chitta” to prescription drugs sooner or later. Some use medicines on days when they are not able to get heroin or smack. Others are solely dependent on it,” said Dr Jaspreet Singh, a de-addiction specialist at the OOAT centre near Patti.

A visit to rural areas, especially in the border belt, would reveal that most villages have more than one chemist shop, even as they do not have a single MBBS doctor within a radius of 10 km. “Most of these chemists survive on selling prescription drugs to addicts,” said a resident.

Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said an intensive drive to inspect chemist shops in the district had been started.

Drug banned in 2024

Pregabalin is generally used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and anxiety. However, it produces a feeling of euphoria, relaxation and calmness similar to opioids.

The number of its users has increased manifold, as it is not covered under the NDPS Act. Its easy availability and low cost made it popular among drug addicts.

In 2024, the district magistrates banned sale of pregabalin beyond 75 mg across the state, with an aim to curb its misuse by drug addicts.