India

Mizoram Targets Codeine Syrup Abuse, Threatens Licence Revocation

By PTI

Aizawl, Mizoram – Health Minister Lalrinpuii warned on Tuesday that the state would cancel licences of drug dealers who violate the law amid rising concerns over the widespread abuse and illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs, especially codeine syrup. In a social media post, the minister said an inter‑ministerial meeting was held on Monday to discuss the alarming increase in drug abuse. The meeting was attended by Excise Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, officials from the Health, Excise and Narcotics departments, and representatives of the Central Young Mizo Association. The discussion noted that the rapid decline in heroin supply, a major drug‑related threat in the state, has pushed many people toward abusing pharmaceutical drugs. It also covered seizures of drugs intended for misuse and the arrest and prosecution of several individuals, including licensed medicine dealers, over irregularities in the procurement and sale of medicines. Lalrinpuii said codeine syrup was identified as the most widely abused pharmaceutical drug in Mizoram, with large quantities reportedly entering the state and being sold without prescriptions despite being a prescription‑only medicine. The abuse has spread among young people, adults and even children. The minister added that restrictions have made the medicine difficult to obtain even for patients who genuinely need it through legitimate pharmacies, while its illegal sale continues on a large scale. She expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some drug dealers and people posing as medical representatives in the trade, noting that drugs liable to abuse have reached even remote corners of the state. The meeting also discussed cases in which labels on codeine syrup bottles were allegedly replaced with those of other medicines to conceal their identity. Several such bottles were seized, and some people linked to the illegal trade were arrested. “The government will take strict action against those misusing drug licences granted in good faith to profit from the sale of drugs liable to abuse,” Lalrinpuii said, adding that licences of those failing to comply with the law would be revoked and new licences would be issued with extreme caution. She urged the Excise and Narcotics department to pursue its investigation vigorously and called on the Food and Drug Administration and the Central YMA to continue their follow‑up action.