Chioma Obinna
4 March 2008
As the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have begun a probe into the illicit use of narcotics in the form of opiods and codeine in over the counter cough medications (OTC), they have restated determination to strike a balance between making opioids available for medical/scientific use in the country.
Opioids is a general term for natural and synthetic drugs with morphine- like actions, although the chemical structure may differ from that of morphine. Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Dora Akunyili who spoke at a one-day forum for surgeons, pharmacists and nurses on the use of narcotics as first line analgesics for pains in Lagos also decried the poor usage of opoids by medical practitioners as first line analgesic in management of moderate and severe pain.
Alerting on the illicit use of OTC cough medications that contain codeine and other opioids , the DG who was represented by the Director of Narcotic Control Services, Mrs. Hauwa Keri, said there have been reports of diversions, misuse and abuse of these drugs especially among the youths in poor neighbourhoods.
Her words, "Sometime in 2001, my attention was drawn to the fact that strong opoid analgesics were unavailable in the country. I was surprised and initiated an enquiry to ascertain the status of these essential drugs in our health care system. My findings indicated that for over 10 years, narcotics stocks gradually diminished in our hospitals with an initial erratic supply and finally became out of stock.
During these years, I wondered how patients with severe pain, especially in palliative care and those undergoing surgery were managed. It means doctors had to make do with what was available, that is, pentazocine, tramadol, dipyrone and non-steroidal anti inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), which of course can never replace opioids."
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