http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_31-10-2002_pg7_28
By Ayesha Javed
Khalid Abbas, 3rd year student of MBBS, has a Pathology oral exam tomorrow. As the exam entails evaluation of a two-year course in fifteen minutes, he is understandably stressed. Every movement of the hands of the clock after midnight summons worries for him. He knows he needs a good night’s sleep to do well tomorrow but has far too many topics to revise yet.
There is only one option left. He opens a drawer, takes out a pack with only two pills left in it and pops one in the mouth. He is now all set to work the entire night and with no fears of falling asleep during the exam tomorrow.
The drug he swallowed was Ritalin, prescribed for individuals (usually children) who have an abnormally high level of activity or suffer from an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Due to its caffeine like actions, Ritalin (chemical name Methylphenidate) kills sleep and increases concentration. These properties make it easily susceptible to abuse by students at exam time. Other than abuse by students, individuals also tend to abuse it for its stimulant effects like appetite suppression, wakefulness, increased concentration, and euphoria. The tablets are either taken orally or crushed and snorted. Some dissolve them in water and inject the mixture, a potentially lethal way since complications can arise due to insoluble fillers in the tablets blocking small blood vessels.
Due to the abuse of the drug, in 1995 the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) placed stringent Schedule II controls on the manufacture, distribution, and prescription of Ritalin resulting in its ban all over the world.
However, a casual investigation conducted in Lahore proved that certain pharmacies were still supplying the drug. Established pharmacies like Zaka Pharmacy and Ferozsons candidly state that they no longer stock the drug but lesser known pharmacies seem to have no problem passing the drug over the counter. An example of the latter would be the pharmacies situated in front of Services Hospital, which sell the drug for as little a five rupees per tablet.
The pharmacists refuse to disclose how they managed to obtain the drug but they do admit that they supply Ritalin to a number of students every day. Most of the students, who buy it, are of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and King Edward Medical College (KEMC).
The fact that the sale of the banned drug is continuing unchecked in a number of pharmacies of the city leads one to speculate that the situation will not be much different in other cities.
Why the Pakistan Pharmacists’ Association or the Ministry of Health is not checking the sale of Ritalin is surprising, especially considering that the adverse effects of Ritalin have been well documented and involve effects as serious as damage to the brain.