Abuse of prescription drugs

Many drugs prescribed by doctors for various ailments can alter the mental state. Such drugs with psychotropic (mind altering) properties are being abused by a section of the society. Abuse of codeine containing cough syrups like Phensedyl is common in the north eastern states of India. Anxiety reducing drugs like diazepam, alprazolam and pain relieving drugs containing synthetic analogues of opium are the other commonly abused group of drugs. Some chemists and retail drug shops make money by diverting drugs to this route. These agents even go to the extent of printing prescriptions of doctors and hospitals and smuggling from other states. V. Shabna, reporter of Indiavision TV highlights about this problem in Kerala in the previous post.