Painkiller abuse in Tamil Nadu sparks HIV, Hepatitis fears
Painkiller addiction is rising among youth in Tamil Nadu, driven by illegal online sales. Can stricter laws and awareness prevent this growing public health crisis?
The illegal sale and intravenous use of painkillers such as Tydol, Tapentadol, Tramadol, Codeine Phosphate, and Nitrazepam are raising alarms across Tamil Nadu. Youngsters are increasingly using these habit-forming drugs for intoxication—injecting them using syringes, thereby exposing themselves to life-threatening infections like HIV and Hepatitis.
Despite monitoring efforts by the Drugs Control Department, the easy availability of these drugs online and through courier services has made regulatory action more difficult. Officials fear the trend could lead to a health crisis among Tamil Nadu’s youth.
The state is already grappling with 8,000–9,000 new HIV cases every year. The rise in intravenous drug use only worsens the risk, with studies suggesting a 97% HIV transmission rate through shared needles.
Online sale drives trend
Drugs such as Tydol and Tapentadol, originally meant for pain relief, are being crushed into powder and injected to achieve a high. Experts warn that this form of administration is not only extremely addictive but also fatal in the long term.
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Compounding the problem is the illegal sale of these medications without prescriptions through online platforms. Authorities report that painkillers are being smuggled into Tamil Nadu from other states, with bulk sales happening unchecked.
The Drugs Control Department has taken action in 434 cases and initiated proceedings in 168 cases over the past year, but enforcement remains a challenge.
Grim health implications
Apart from HIV, the use of shared needles has increased the incidence of Hepatitis B and C among addicts. In Tamil Nadu, Hepatitis B (HBV) is estimated at 1.63% and Hepatitis C (HCV) at 0.3%—numbers likely to worsen if the current trend continues.
Most affected are youth aged 19–27, who resort to these drugs not just for recreation but often for coping with mental health issues or peer pressure. Many arrive at hospitals only after reaching a critical stage—suffering from physical illness, suicidal thoughts, or aggressive behaviour.
Some even go as far as using veterinary anaesthetics like ketamine for a high, highlighting the dangerous lengths to which addiction is pushing them.
What lies ahead?
The Drugs Control Department has written to counterparts in Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, urging vigilance over bulk sales and courier transfers of painkillers. However, interstate cooperation is still limited.
While there are calls for the Union Health Ministry to implement stricter regulations on the online sale of habit-forming drugs, ground-level awareness and youth-targeted rehabilitation are equally important.
Tamil Nadu’s worsening painkiller crisis is a wake-up call. Unless addressed through coordinated regulation, public health campaigns, and addiction support systems, the situation could spiral beyond control.
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