Telangana Cracks Down on Illegal Sale of Prescription Opioids: Wholesalers Warned

The illegal sale and stocking of habit-forming drugs is a serious crime," emphasized the DCA Director-General

May 13, 2024

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Drugs Control Administration DCA Telangana — DCA Telangana

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Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by The Health Master

Illegal Sale

The Telangana State Drug Control Administration (DCA) has intensified its efforts to combat the illegal sale of habit-forming drugs, particularly prescription opioids like tapentadol.

This crackdown comes in the wake of a recent raid conducted by the DCA sleuths in collaboration with the Hyderabad Police at the Charminar area.

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Unearthing Illegal Activity

The raid targeted illegal sale of drugs in the Charminar bus stand parking area, where officers apprehended Arshad Khan, a resident of Hyderabad, for selling Tydol 100 tablets (100mg tapentadol) without a license.

A significant quantity of the medication, amounting to 400 tablets and valued at Rs. 23,000, was confiscated during the operation.

DCA Issues Stern Warning to Wholesalers

Following this raid, the Telangana DCA Director-General issued a strong warning to pharmaceutical wholesalers across Telangana.

Supplying medicines to unlicensed entities or those lacking a valid drug license is a punishable offense under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.

The DCA mandates that wholesalers verify the recipient’s drug license before supplying any medications.

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Highlighting the Risks of Illegal Sale of drugs

“The illegal sale and stocking of habit-forming drugs is a serious crime,” emphasized the DCA Director-General. “Offenders can face imprisonment for up to five years under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.”

Understanding Tapentadol and its Classification

Tapentadol is a centrally acting opioid analgesic commonly prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain.

It can be used for both acute pain (post-surgery or injury) and chronic pain related to musculoskeletal conditions.

However, due to its potential for abuse and addiction, tapentadol is classified as a Schedule H1 drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Schedule H1 signifies a high potential for misuse and necessitates stricter regulations for its sale.

Schedule H1 Regulations and Consequences

Dr. V B Kamalasan Reddy, Director-General of the DCA, clarified that Schedule H1 classification restricts the sale of tapentadol to registered retail pharmacies, and only with a valid prescription from a licensed medical practitioner.

Arshad Khan’s case exemplifies the dangers of unlicensed sales, as he lacked a license and was selling the addictive medication directly to drug users.

Combating the Proliferation of Illegal Sale of drugs

Dr. Reddy acknowledged the widespread presence of illegal sale of drugs in certain areas of Telangana.

He vowed to take stringent action to eradicate this menace.

The raid team collected drug samples for further analysis, and a thorough investigation is underway.

All those involved will face legal consequences.

Officers Involved in the Raid

The successful raid involved a dedicated team of officers, including:

T. Rajamouli, Assistant Director of the DCA in Hyderabad;
B. Lakshmi, Drug Inspector for the Charminar area; and
S. Naveen, Sub-inspector of Police at the Hussaini Alam police station.

This incident highlights the importance of regulating prescription opioids to prevent misuse and addiction.

The Telangana DCA’s proactive approach serves as a model for other states to combat the illegal sale of controlled substances.

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