Srinagar, April 15: Pregabalin, the common capsule used for nerve pain, was previously just another Over-the-Counter (OTC) medication on a pharmacy shelf.
Doctors freely prescribed it for aching backs and restless legs, and patients drank it down gratefully. However, in recent years, this quiet capsule, along with its relative Tapentadol, has evolved into a silent dark monster that is infiltrating homes, schools, and streets, trapping the younger generation.
Doctors treating addiction in Srinagar’s tertiary care facilities say it all started tiny.
For the past few years, chemists have received requests for Pregabalin from teenagers and older males. They did not have a prescription and instead utilised brand names or slang, such as ‘Koda.’ They would purchase a large number of strips and return, becoming increasingly desperate with each visit.
By 2023, Pregabalin has already been included to the list of drug monitoring departments.
Pregabalin, on the other hand, is neither heroin, a forbidden drug, or even an H1 substance that requires a history of purchases or a prescription.
Nonetheless, it drew users in.The fire had spread – inexpensive at Rs 10 to 20 per Pregabalin capsule, and Tapentadol, a somewhat more expensive painkiller, had become the go-to fix for the younger generation, which also feels it is a harmless approach to combat stress, worry, and depression while getting a ‘kick’.
A 2024 study at SMHS Hospital’s De-addiction Centre discovered that 16% of heroin addicts also abused Tapentadol, with half utilising it to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Pregabalin was more pernicious.Many of the Center’s de-addiction counsellors stated that individuals consume up to 1200 mg per day, “mostly for the euphoria”.
It’s not just a drug for them; it’s a legal, seemingly safe way to avoid other drugs,” they explained.Dr. Yasi Rather, in charge of the SMHS Hospital De-Addiction Centre, stated that these narcotics are grabbing the attention of young people and can have catastrophic effects.
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Tapentadol, an opioid-like medication, is ‘very addictive’ and can lead to dependence and overdose.
Pregabalin, a gabapentinoid, causes drowsiness and cognitive impairment when used in large quantities.
At times, these can result in respiratory depression, convulsions, and death. Furthermore, these are leading patients down a never-ending path of drug dependence,” Dr. Rather stated. “Withdrawal and dependence are real even in these medications that many of our young generation people swear to be harmless.
The Drug Control Administration has tightened down.Lotika Khajuria, the J&K Controller (Drugs) DFCO, stated that the state is seeking for Pregabalin to join Tapentadol under tighter Schedule H1 standards.
We are closely and strictly checking the supply chain and amounts, and I promise everyone that no wholesaler in Jammu and Kashmir is involved in black marketing these pharmaceuticals. However, numerous consignments from other countries may be arriving,” she explained.
