BANGKOK, July 2015 – The Narcotics Control Board (NCB) is set to start regulating the sales of drugs at pharmacies to prevent the misuse of drugs especially in children and youth, says NCB Secretary-General.
The NCB Secretary-General Permpong Chaovalit stated that the NCB will work with related agencies to put an end on drug abuse, such as the misapplication of Procodyl painkiller in combination with other substances to induce intoxication, that is currently spreading among high school students.
He has said that the NCB will be conducting law enforcement, suppression operations, in-depth investigation, and random inspections at pharmacies in risk areas. There have been reports that pharmacies have been selling these items to children knowingly of their intention to induce intoxication through the misuse of drugs.
The NCB will campaign to reinforce medicine regulations to cover the drugs now being misused by children and youth, to only be available at the pharmacies certified by the Food and Drug Administration. Other social regulations may also be enforced, as well as raising the awareness at educational institutes on the prevention of drug abuse.
The NCB Secretary-General noted that these drugs will still be available at regular pharmacies, as the sale ban would likely affect the general public. He added that any pharmacies acting as a drug abusing retailer will face legal prosecution and the temporary suspension of the pharmacy license for 120 days.
Since the beginning of 2015, 40 pharmacies have already had their licenses suspended, while the city of Bangkok has been recognized as the risk area where this behavior of drug abuse is widespread.
