KABUL(SW):Tramadol; an opioid pain killing medication that is generally used to treat moderate to severe pain but Salam Watandar has learnt this highly addictive medicine is widely sold in the capital Kabul without the doctor’s prescription.
It functions more like morphine in the body to control the pain.
Mohammad Farid, a drug store owner, told Salam Watandar that selling medicine without prescription has become a norm in the country. He said most people ask for medicines that does not necessary need a doctor’s prescription like buying Paracetamol, Brufine etc. “But, a significant number of people also buy sensitive medicines like strong pain killers and anti-biotic on their own”, he said.
He said there are a lot of people, particularly youngsters, who use Tramadol in the capital city Kabul on regular basis. Farid mentioned antibiotic-injections are among his bestselling products. He went on to say out of 10 clients a day, only 3 have a doctor’s prescription.
Abdul Bari Hanafi, another pharmacists in Kabul, said that some patients who cannot afford to see a doctor buy medicines without a prescription in a bid to seek quick fix. He mentioned that Tramadol is also bought by the drug addicts who try to quit their addiction.
Hamid Tordi, Lecturer at the Pharmacy Department Kabul University, stressed that it is a neurotic drug and is highly addictive if used for a longer period of time. He warned Tramadol should only be sold on a doctor’s prescription.
ENDS
