Pharmacy raids yield drugs that give ‘high’

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Large stocks of a cough syrup and Tramadol, a pain killer, were taken into custody by National Drug Authority officials from several private pharmacies in Maradana and Malabe, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

Officials found over half a million of rupees worth drugs during the raid. A pharmacy usually stores only five or six bottles of cough syrup and a small amount of Tramadol tablets, the spokesman said. According to him the raids were following public complaints.

“The private pharmacies had sold drugs without prescriptions. Most drugs were sold to schoolchildren. Tramadol (Teba) and the cough syrup are used as substitute for alcohol and narcotics. The two drugs have narcotic effects and addictive when taken in excess,” the spokesman said.

The two drugs can be sold only on prescription because they can cause serious health complications, especially neurological problems if used without medical advice.

The Health Ministry will take legal action against these pharmacies and cancel their licences. Similar raids will be conducted countrywide to detect drugs stored above the required temperature (27 C) and sold without prescriptions. Several public complaints had been received on switching off air conditioners in private pharmacies to cut down costs, he said.

The ministry warned parents to be vigilant because drugs without doctors’ prescription can cause kidney, liver and brain damage and also cause other health complications especially poisoning. It has been found out schoolchildren and school leavers use these drugs, he added.