E-DRUG: Cough syrup intoxication in Lahore (5)
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Dear all,
Cough mixture addicts are plenty in South Africa. Fortunately in South Africa cough mixtures containing codeine and diphenhydramine are available in dispensaries which requires name, address and telephone number before purchasing these cough mixtures. Cough mixture addicts usually get friends to buy for them, as well as hopping from pharmacy to pharmacy until they can buy these cough mixtures. It then boils down to individual pharmacists and pharmacy assistants to supply these cough mixtures.
Pharmacies that operate with locum staff will be easier to obtain these mixtures as the locum staff may not be aware of the addicts. The addicts also keep changing names and addresses so that a history cannot be found in the pharmacy computer system. It is a huge problem in South Africa together with codeine containing pain medication.
I know some pharmacies that hide these cough mixtures so that when these addicts come to buy it , then they usually say we do not keep this product. This sometimes can be a problem for the genuine users who will also struggle to find these cough mixtures. Some pharmacies may have an internal policy not to entertain these addicts but sometimes it is difficult as it can be difficult to identify an addict. It is also very difficult to report these addicts or even find help for the addiction.
Kind regards,
Ajay Patel ( BPharm)
ajaypat47@gmail.com
South Africa