Habit-forming drug misuse raises concern across Hyderabad and Telangana

The misuse of habit-forming medicines is raising concern in Hyderabad and other urban areas of Telangana. While enforcement agencies target illegal sales at medical shops, experts stress the need to expand rehabilitation services and address the psychological pressures underlying substance misuse

Hyderabad: A quiet but alarming wave of addiction to habit-forming drugs is showing signs of taking root among vulnerable populations in Hyderabad and other urban areas of Telangana.

While the state’s drug enforcement agencies continue to raid medical shops and detect violations, with 406 shops reportedly found to have discrepancies during recent statewide special drives, the figures also point to a deeper societal issue: rising demand for chemical dependency and recreational escape among vulnerable populations.

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To understand the crisis, it is vital to distinguish between habit-forming drugs, standard medicines and prescription drugs. All habit-forming drugs require a prescription, but not all prescription medicines are addictive.

For instance, prescription medicines such as antibiotics and blood pressure tablets generally do not cause addiction. In contrast, some habit-forming drugs can cause chemical dependence, tolerance, and severe psychological or physical addiction.

Certain medicines with dependence potential are regulated under Schedule H1 and Schedule X of the Drugs Rules. These include drugs that act on the central nervous system. Depending on the medicine and how it is used, they can cause euphoria, sedation or pain relief. Regular or unsupervised use may lead to tolerance, dependence and addiction.

Such medicines include opioid analgesics such as tramadol and tapentadol, nerve-pain medication such as pregabalin, central nervous system depressants such as alprazolam, zolpidem and nitrazepam, and codeine-based cough syrups.

Habit-forming drugs repeatedly seized during enforcement operations are sometimes being used for purposes other than their intended therapeutic use. Some people misuse these medicines as substitutes for other substances.

What begins as self-medication or a quick fix for stress can escalate into physical dependence, psychological distress and potentially life-threatening overdoses, said Dr Vishal Akula, senior psychiatrist and professor and head of psychiatry at Government Medical College, Nizamabad.

Recent drives by drug inspectors in Hyderabad have highlighted areas where enforcement activity has been intensified. These include Charminar, Mehdipatnam, Tolichowki, Malakpet, Saroornagar, Balapur, Hayathnagar, Secunderabad and Amberpet.

While regulatory crackdowns, decoy operations and show-cause notices aim to curb the illegal supply of medicines, health advocates stress that restricting retail access is only part of the solution. They say the need of the hour is to expand access to rehabilitation and address the psychological pressures that may drive people to misuse habit-forming drugs.