Rise in medical drug abuse in Sirsa alarming
The drug abuse problem in Sirsa district has become more alarming, with narcotic traffickers exploiting legal loopholes to spread addiction among the youth. A recent drug bust by the Sirsa police revealed the extent of the issue when they seized over 83,000 narcotic pills, including highly abused drugs like lorazepam & alprazolam. However, due to gaps in the law, the police can only take action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for 1,770 pills. The rest of the pills, falling under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, allow traffickers to escape legal consequences and continue their distribution, raising concerns about the growing drug trade in the region.
Sirsa's Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikrant Bhushan, confirmed that the pills were seized from a house on Kelania Road, with the police team working in collaboration with the Drug Controller’s team. Among the seized tablets, 1,770 were identified as controlled substances under the NDPS Act, while the remaining 81,775 of tapentadol, pregablin, zopiclone, signature were handed over to the Drug Controller for further investigation. One suspect was arrested in connection with the case.
The incident comes at a time when the district is already grappling with an alarming rise in medical drug abuse. Although the local police have been successful in curbing the availability of drugs like heroin and "chitta" (synthetic drugs), the youth are increasingly turning to medical drugs, particularly opioids, which are used for pain relief, sleep disorders and anxiety. These drugs are readily available in the market without prescriptions, making them accessible to anyone, including young addicts.
A local medical store operator, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that due to the police crackdown on illegal drugs, many young people are now seeking out medical drugs as an alternative. These drugs are sold at a good profit margin in pharmacies and are often abused in large quantities. This has created a growing underground market for prescription drugs, putting more lives at risk.
Dr Pankaj Sharma, a psychiatrist at Sirsa Civil Hospital, highlighted the dangerous trend of medical drug abuse. He shared that some patients consume up to 30-40 pills a day. The pills often contain opium-related substances, and when abused, they have similar effects to heroin or "chitta." Many users grind the pills, mix them with water, and inject the mixture for a stronger high. Dr Sharma warned that prolonged use could cause severe damage to vital organs, with the effects being as dangerous as those of illicit drugs.
Legal experts, including Dr Rakesh Saini from the law department of Chaudhary Devi Lal University, have called for immediate amendments to the NDPS Act to address the growing issue of medical drug abuse. They argue that the current law’s loopholes are being exploited by the traffickers to push these drugs onto vulnerable youth. Dr Saini recommended that an expert committee be formed to review the NDPS Act and propose necessary changes to make it more effective in combating the rising medical drug abuse. The growing crisis calls for urgent attention and stronger legal measures to protect the youth from this deadly addiction.
A large stash of narcotic drugs seized during a police raid.
