Codeine syrups and Nitrazepam tablets are often misused for their sedative effects, leading to addiction and dependence
Continued misuse or overdose of these drugs can result in respiratory depression, seizures, coma, and even death
HYDERABAD, MARCH 08, 2024: Officials of Telangana Drugs Control Administration seized illegally stocking and selling of habit-forming drugs such as ‘Codeine containing cough syrups and Nitrazepam tablets’ to drug addicts at exorbitant prices in Mattampally village of Suryapet district.
DCA Director General VB Kamalasan Reddy said that officials of Nalgonda Zone, acting on credible information, conducted raids on March 7 and 8 March, 2024, along with officials from the Excise Department, to bust the illegal stocking and sale of habit-forming drugs to drug addicts. During the raids, officers detected that Ramavath Ravindra Naik, who runs a medical shop by the name of New Durga Bhavani Medical Stores in Mattampally Village, stocked habit-forming drugs at his house and was selling them illegally at exorbitant prices to drug addicts.
Ravindra Naik, who is the proprietor and registered pharmacist of the medical shop, illegally stocked 10 varieties of drugs at his residence, out of which two varieties of habit-forming drugs in huge quantities were found. Officers detected 80 bottles of Codeine-containing cough syrups and 150 tablets of Nitrazepam during the raid. Officers seized stocks worth a total of Rs. 20,414/- during the raid.
Ramavath Ravindra Naik procured habit-forming drugs from Venkata Sai Surgical Distributor, Kodad, and Sai Durga Pharma, Kodad. Raids were carried out at the two agencies by the DCA officers, and the supply of huge quantities of habit-forming drugs was detected. K. Dass, Assistant Director, Nalgonda, G. Surender, Drugs Inspector, Suryapet, Govardhan, Sub-inspector, Excise Department, K. Someshwar, Drugs Inspector, Nalgonda, and J. Ashwin Kumar, Drugs Inspector, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District were among the officers who carried out the raid.
The abuse of habit-forming drugs like codeine syrups and nitrazepam tablets can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences. Codeine syrups and Nitrazepam tablets are often misused for their sedative effects, leading to addiction and dependence. Continued misuse or overdose of these drugs can result in respiratory depression, seizures, coma, and even death.
In another incident, the officials conducted a raid on the premises of a dealer named Gunda Maheshwara Murthy, operating under the firm name ‘MS Medical Systems’ at Nagarjuna Colony, Tarnaka, Secunderabad, was found to be operating without the necessary license or registration certification in an unauthorized manner.
During the raids conducted, the officials of Secunderabad zone detected substantial stocks of ‘nebulizers’ and ‘steam sterilizers’ at the premises of MS Medical Systems. Both nebulizers and steam sterilizers are classified as ‘Medical Devices’ according to the Medical Devices Rules of 2017. As per the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, it is mandatory for any entity engaged in the sale of medical devices to obtain a license or registration certificate from the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana. DCA officers seized stocks of nebulizers and steam sterilizers worth Rs. 6.5 lakhs during the raid.
Saritha, Assistant Director, Secunderabad, B. Govind Singh, Drugs Inspector, Secunderabad, G. Indira Priyadarshini, Drugs Inspector, Habsiguda, and G. Anil, Drugs Inspector, Malakpet, were among the officers who carried out the raid.
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