In India, Punjab is one of the
hotbeds of drug abuse. A PIL recently filed in the Punjab and Haryana High
Court asked that an opioid substitute, Buprenorphine,
be made available on a “long-term basis” to help drug addicts.
What is Buprenorphine?
It is an opioid drug used to treat pain and addiction. It is the main drug
in Opiod Substitution Therapy (OST),
which is often used with Naloxone.
The treatment involves doctor-administered doses of Buprenorphine under
controlled circumstances.
According to doctors, the drug
can play a major role in rehabilitating
addicts if used under medical supervision along with psychosocial
interventions. But there are risks — patients
may get addicted to Buprenorphine, and start consuming it in non-medical
environments. If injected along with depressant drugs, this can even lead to death.
Is it commonly available in pharmacies?
Buprenorphine is a Schedule H drug
and is available at government-recognised
pharmacies only. But in 2014, the Punjab government — which had ordered a
high-profile crackdown on drug peddlers — placed further restrictions on it.
The government issued orders to
restrict its supply after there were reports of misuse and illegal sale. Its
availability was restricted to government and private rehabilitation centres
only.
How freely is Buprenorphine available in other states across the
country?
Buprenorphine is sold under
strict regulations and cannot be
purchased without the prescription of a qualified doctor. It is listed as a
psychotropic
substance under The Narcotic Drugs
Psychotropic Substances Act.
Is there a debate on Buprenorphine in other countries as well?
In his first State of the Union
address, President Donald Trump said the country in 2016 “lost 64,000 Americans
to drug overdoses: 174 deaths per day. Seven per hour.” Last month, the US Drug
Enforcement Administration allowed more healthcare professionals to prescribe
and dispense Buprenorphine from their offices.
Life expectancy in the United States fell for the second consecutive
year in 2017 — apparently due to the worsening opioid crisis. In October
2017, President Donald Trump directed that the opioid crisis be declared a
public health emergency.
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