THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Medical college restricts the supply of high-strength sleeping pills to mental patients. The action follows the news published by Kerala Kaumudi yesterday that these drugs are being smuggled for use as a substitute for intoxication. In view of the fact that such drugs are widely procured through middlemen for intoxicating purposes, the Superintendent of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital has written to the Head of the Department of Psychiatry, demanding that restrictions be placed on the distribution of the drugs. It is suggested that the doctors should not stamp the medicine in old OPs without registering at the OP counter, and should only give medicine for a maximum period of two weeks. The letter also states that giving medicine without any control for up to six months is a social threat. Henceforth every time the medicine is required, a new OP ticket should be taken and the doctor's prescription should be taken and delivered to the counter with a seal. The head of the department should ensure this.
Considering the seriousness of the incident, a copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the Director of Medical Education and the Joint Director of e-Health. Similar restrictions may be imposed in other government medical colleges in the state in the coming days. There is also an allegation that the groups that sell drugs at huge prices are getting help from inside the hospitals.
Intoxication by adding pills to syrup
These drug gangs do not consume pills for mental illness that are bought at cheap prices from pharmacies in medical colleges as it is. These tablets are added to cough syrup and consumed. Such groups targeting students are widespread in the state.