NEW initiates stringent controls to safeguard youth from danger of drugs

To safeguard Kuwaiti youth from the perils of toxic substances, an authoritative source disclosed stringent controls have been recently endorsed by Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi designed to regulate the administration of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, curbing their potential misuse and mitigating the risk of addiction.

The source underscored that Al-Awadi’s approved measures are geared towards thwarting the illicit trade of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It has been noted that certain individuals, driven by unscrupulous motives, have exploited these substances, diverting them from their intended medical purposes to profit through unauthorized promotion and sales, including the unauthorized sale of drugs such as “Lyrica” and “Tramadol,” reports Al-Qabas daily.

The decision by the Minister of Health to restrict the distribution of narcotic drugs beyond the government medical sector was prompted by the discovery of 2.5 million narcotic pills in the possession of private medical entities, a stark contrast to the less than a million pills found in the public medical sector.

Despite the public sector handling over 85% of surgeries and medical cases requiring these medications, only 30% of the substances are dispensed, indicating an overuse trend in the private sector.

Inspection committees uncovered noteworthy observations, including bi-weekly orders placed by narcotic and psychotropic substances units in government hospitals. The committees recommended tightening controls to prevent the unauthorized distribution of narcotic drugs outside hospital premises.

New protocols include the establishment of units in government hospitals and specialized centers to monitor the movement of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. These units will verify the proper dispensing procedures, cross-referencing with the quantities received from the Medical Warehouse Department. Additionally, auditing of prescriptions in medical wards and regular inspections of required doses for narcotic drugs in patient cases will be conducted.

The Ministry of Health, under the guidance of Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi and with support from the senior leadership, has initiated a comprehensive mechanism aimed at restricting the proliferation of substance abuse and trafficking. Inspection committees have proposed measures to address the issue, particularly focusing on substances like Lyrica, Tramadol, and psychotropic drugs.

Specialized units have been established in government hospitals and centers with responsibilities for monitoring substance movements and ensuring correct dispensing procedures, operating under the name of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Unit.

To further tighten control, medical staff are now required to include diagnoses on all prescriptions for narcotics and psychotropic substances, and pharmacists are obligated to dispense only when prescriptions are complete.

Emphasizing the significance of accurate data, the Minister of Health has mandated the Drug Inspection Department to provide statistics every six months for all types of narcotic and psychotropic substances, ensuring clarity and verification of information.

Measures and proposals

• Activating the role of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Unit in health centers and government hospitals
• Tightening control over narcotic drugs and psychotropic medications
• Commitment to the demand mechanism according to actual consumption and disbursement rates
• Matching quantities received from the Medical Warehouse Department with registered quantities
• Auditing records of dispensing narcotic and psychotropic medications in medical wards
• Checking prescriptions in the wards with dosage, data and diagnosis
• Activating the role of the pharmacist with the necessity of providing pharmaceutical consultations in the event of repeated treatment for the patient and the patient’s response to the treatment and carefully adjusting the dose for the patient as prescribed.