Raipur
The state’s Drug Department and Police Department have launched a joint crackdown on the illegal trade of narcotics. Several raids have led to the seizure of a large quantity of restricted medicines and the arrest of several people.
In a recent raid in Pandariya, Kabir Dham district, 200 strips of a restricted medicine were seized following a tip-off about their illegal sale. In Raipur, two people were held for the illegal sale of codeine phosphate-containing medicines, and 120 strips were recovered from them. Cases were registered against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in both instances.
A raid on Chandan Medical Store at Kopra in Gariaband district uncovered irregularities in the records for the sale of restricted narcotic medicines. Action is now being taken against the store owner under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules of 1945.
In Mahasamund, a meeting of medical store owners was held at the municipal office to discuss the ‘Nasha Mukt Mahasamund’ (Drug-free Mahasamund) campaign. All the medical store owners promised to cooperate in the effort to save society from the ill effects of drugs. During the meeting, it was noted that substance abusers often misuse medicines, which leads to an increase in crime. People were urged not to support the illegal sale of narcotic drugs.
The Drug Department is also conducting continuous awareness campaigns. At the Town Hall in Bemetara district headquarters, a joint programme was held with the Department of Women and Child Development to educate the public about the harmful effects of drugs and encourage them to stay away from substance abuse.
Similar programmes were organised by drug inspectors in government schools in Kondagaon, Janjgir-Champa, Bilaspur, and Rajnandgaon to raise awareness about the adverse effects of drugs. Students were also administered a pledge to stay away from drugs.
Officials from the State Drug Control Administration and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) conducted a joint inspection of the central pharmacy store at AIIMS Raipur on the instructions of CDSCO Mumbai. Legal samples of some medicines from Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Pune, were collected during the inspection. The samples were taken as per the legal procedure and will be sent for testing and analysis to ensure the medicines are of good quality, safe, and effective.
