AP Launches Drive Against Misuse Of Tramadol Injections
Officials said they found several empty and broken tramadol vials and used-syringes in oil palm plantations, particularly at Vegavaram village in Jangareddygudem in Eluru district.
VIJAYAWADA: The state drugs control administration has launched a statewide drive against the misuse of tramadol injections as an intoxicant by inspecting 100 medical shops and detecting 55 “norms violations.” Five persons were arrested in this connection.
Acting on the directions of health minister Satya Kumar Yadav, the department conducted the drive under the supervision of its director general Arun Babu.
Officials said they found several empty and broken tramadol vials and used-syringes in oil palm plantations, particularly at Vegavaram village in Jangareddygudem in Eluru district. Local drugs inspector P. Mallikarjuna inspected the area and found tramadol vials sold under the name Tramadex.
Tramadol injections are used by doctors to control severe pain. As the medicine can cause intoxication, some people started misusing it as an intoxicant. Though medical shops are required to sell the injections only as per doctor prescriptions, some owners allegedly sell them without bills.
The drugs control administration verified records of manufacturers and distributors of tramadol in AP and Telangana and found a large volume of sales in the Jangareddygudem area.
Officials inspected the Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Medical Agency and the D Rupa Peddinti Medical Agency. The Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Medical Agency had purchased 20,000 tramadol injections through two bills this year, but officials found no records of their sale or stocks.
During the inquiry, officials found four boxes of Tramdex injections hidden in a shop involved in woodwork belonging to a friend of the medical shop owner. They seized 7,550 injections.
Officials also found that the D. Rupa Peddinti Medical Agency had purchased 5,200 Tramec injections over the past two years. During the inquiry, it was found that the injections had been sold to other shops without bills.
The Jangareddygudem police arrested five persons following a complaint by the drugs control administration. Some of those arrested were medical shop owners.
Director general Arun Babu said the inspections would continue across the state and stern action would be taken against those violating norms.