Increase in smuggling of Alprazolam, ganja- a serious cause for concern

​Hyderabad: It appears the smuggling of Alprazolam is on the rise in the last three years if the increasing quantity of seizures by the Prohibition and Excise department in Telangana is any indication.

According to statistics, a whopping 958 kgs of Alprazolam was seized in just nine months between April 2015 and January 2016, while the quantity of Alprazolam seized during the 2015-2016 financial year was 293 kg while the same was just 146 kg in 2014-15 financial year.

In medication, Alprazolam is generally used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders. However, the drug is being used to adulterate toddy in Telangana as genuine toddy production has seen a sharp decrease due to disappearing toddy plantations.

Doctors’ advice that pregnant women should not use Alprazolam since it causes birth defects or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Further, Alprazolam is habit-forming. Misuse of habit-forming medicine can cause addiction, overdose or even death.

Despite this, Alprazolam is increasingly used to adulterate toddy in the State. The drug is mainly smuggled from Mumbai by organised gangs, a senior official of the Prohibition and Excise department told The Hans India on condition of anonymity.