Codeine Syrup Abuse Emerges as a Public Challenge

Codeine Syrup Abuse Emerges as Public Challenge

Why in the News ?

The seizure of around 7,500 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup in Bihar has highlighted the growing misuse of the drug. Experts link the rise in addiction cases, particularly among youth, to its use as a substitute for alcohol following the State’s prohibition policy.

Codeine: Medical Uses and Health Risks

• Codeine is a naturally occurring opioid derived from morphine, which is extracted from the opium poppy plant.
• It is primarily used as a cough suppressant and is prescribed for severe or persistent dry cough associated with respiratory illnesses, following proper environmental clearance protocols in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• The medicine acts on the brain’s cough centre, reducing the urge to cough.
• Common side effects include drowsiness, constipation, nausea, dizziness, and reduced alertness.
• Prolonged misuse can cause addiction, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, respiratory depression, and damage to mental and physical health, undermining the right to a pollution free environment for healthy living.
• Excessive consumption may also lead to psychiatric disorders, liver damage, kidney complications, and impaired cognitive functioning, reflecting the need for the precautionary principle in drug administration.

Rising Misuse and Regulatory Challenges in Bihar

• Since the implementation of alcohol prohibition in Bihar, codeine cough syrups have increasingly been used as a cheaper and easily accessible intoxicant.
• Their sedative and euphoric effects have contributed to growing abuse, especially among young individuals.
• Law enforcement agencies have uncovered large illegal stockpiles of codeine syrups, often linked to interstate trafficking networks operating without proper environmental clearances or regulatory oversight.
• In 2016, Bihar classified codeine-containing cough syrups as “intoxicants” under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, preventing ex post facto legalization of unauthorized sales.
• Possession or sale without authorization attracts penalties including fines, confiscation of goods, and imprisonment, applying the polluter pays principle to hold violators accountable.
• Experts suggest stronger monitoring through e-prescriptions, pharmacy audits similar to EIA notification mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns, while also addressing root causes such as unemployment and substance abuse through principles of environmental democracy and participatory governance.