SAMBALPUR: Sambalpur Drug Inspector Priyaranjan Nayak has clamped down on sale of habit-forming drugs (HFD). It is aimed at checking growing incidence of crime in the town with youths taking to chain snatching and petty thefts to buy their quota of cough syrups, painkillers and tranquillisers which are cheap alternative to intoxicants. While overall consumption of pricey narcotics among youths has registered a decline, there has been a gradual shift to sedatives and tranquillisers.Under their influence, youths are found either dozing off or feeling euphoric. They drive at break-neck speed and resort to sadistic activities. They often end up committing crime and even in a brawl. Moreover, fear of getting caught is remote as persons taking HFD do not smell. Even girls are reportedly getting addicted to it. They are available over the counter at medicine stores at a premium to boot.Cough syrups contain codeine, a derivative of opium and nitrozepan properties and prolonged consumption can lead to neurological disorders. However, the clamp down by the Drug Inspector has made the medicine shop owners jittery.Not only has the drug inspector warned shopkeepers but also compiled a database of medicine stores which have been purchasing huge quantity of the drugs from wholesalers. He has issued stern instruction not to sell drugs without prescription. A strict vigil over the stock has made purchase of HFD difficult for addicts.Holding additional charge of Sambalpur, Nayak said he was unable to devote more time in restricting the sale of HFD.
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