To restrict and control the sale of contaminated food, spurious drugs and drug abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS), 11 drugs have been identified under the directorate of food safety and drug control (DFSDC) in Rajasthan.

Some of the drugs, mostly used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, pain relief, and other psychiatric disorders are being misused for intoxication and the chances of their abuse are high among the youth. Hence, the DFSDC has instructed all pharmacies in the state to maintain a daily log of 11 medicines, including codeine, tramadol, alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, diphenoxylate, nitrazepam, etizolam, pentazocine, buprenorphine, and chlordiazepoxide.

According to a senior health official, a tracking and monitoring system has also been devised in the state, to prevent the misuse of these 11 medications. It will assist NDPS to make stock entries live and enable them to monitor the availability of these drugs and their daily sale through the web portal.

Chemists have been strictly instructed to record information about the 11 drugs’, availability, sale, and purchase along with the specifics of their drug license, which will be tracked online. (Times of India, Jun 27, 2022)