EXAM BLUES: STUDENT CONSUMES 148 SLEEPING PILLS
The Asian Age (Nov 2003)
By Skimmy Gupta
The tenth standard board exams are four months away; but the ‘exam blues’ has already started engulfing students. Shweta (name changed), a X th standard student and resident of Thane consumed 148 sleeping pills in one week to seek relief from study stress. Luckily, she survived the overdose and is recuperating at home. The surprising part is three local chemists at Ghodbunder road, Thane: ‘Flora Chemists’ at Vasant Vihar;’Royal Stores’ at Swastik Park and a chemist shop near Madras Café, Gandhi Nagar sold sleeping pills in large quantities to her without medical prescription or adult guidance.
Since past few days; Shweta’s parents were worried about their daughter’s suffering from constant headaches, vomits etc. They took her to nearby clinic for medical aid but had no clue about her indulgence in sleeping pills .On Friday (31st October),a local chemist informed them about their daughter asking sleeping pills from his shop. Then, Shweta revealed that she brought over 150 pills of ‘Valium’ and ’ Alprazolam’ sleeping pills from local chemists:’ Flora’ at Vasant Vihar;’Royal’ at Swastik Park and a chemist shop near Madras Café, Gandhi Nagar.She stated approaching board exams forced her to consume these pills. She also informed that she brought medicine from different shops to avoid any suspicion.
Shweta’s mother on condition of anonymity said, “She also attends extra classes and is quite a bright student. We are still shocked about the whole incident. Chemists selling sleeping pills to children in large quantities without proper medical prescription could be dangerous.”
Shweta's parents brought the case forward to Sulochana Kapil,a social activist at Pokhran Road 2,Thane on Saturday (1st November) morning. Sulochana approached FDA regarding the open sale of sleeping pills. Sulochana told The Asian Age " Sometimes parental/school pressure forces students to take such extreme steps.We are also planning to address this issue at PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) meetings at various schools of the neighborhood. Parents will be advised not to pressurize kids for studies to avoid such dire consequences”
However Kailash, owner, Flora Chemists at Vasant Vihar-Thane about their shop’s alleged involvement is selling sleeping pills said, ” We never sell drug control medicines like sleeping pills etc without a certified doctor’s medical prescription. Our attendants have also been informed to give medicines strictly on prescriptions; even if they are regular customers.”
P.R Uttarwar, Joint Commissioner, FDA-Thane informed, " Such medicines cannot be sold without proper verification of customer’s medical papers, especially students. We will send drug inspectors to check on the chemist shops and curb this malpractice.”
===================================
By Skimmy Gupta
The tenth standard board exams are four months away; but the ‘exam blues’ has already started engulfing students. Shweta (name changed), a X th standard student and resident of Thane consumed 148 sleeping pills in one week to seek relief from study stress. Luckily, she survived the overdose and is recuperating at home. The surprising part is three local chemists at Ghodbunder road, Thane: ‘Flora Chemists’ at Vasant Vihar;’Royal Stores’ at Swastik Park and a chemist shop near Madras Café, Gandhi Nagar sold sleeping pills in large quantities to her without medical prescription or adult guidance.
Since past few days; Shweta’s parents were worried about their daughter’s suffering from constant headaches, vomits etc. They took her to nearby clinic for medical aid but had no clue about her indulgence in sleeping pills .On Friday (31st October),a local chemist informed them about their daughter asking sleeping pills from his shop. Then, Shweta revealed that she brought over 150 pills of ‘Valium’ and ’ Alprazolam’ sleeping pills from local chemists:’ Flora’ at Vasant Vihar;’Royal’ at Swastik Park and a chemist shop near Madras Café, Gandhi Nagar.She stated approaching board exams forced her to consume these pills. She also informed that she brought medicine from different shops to avoid any suspicion.
Shweta’s mother on condition of anonymity said, “She also attends extra classes and is quite a bright student. We are still shocked about the whole incident. Chemists selling sleeping pills to children in large quantities without proper medical prescription could be dangerous.”
Shweta's parents brought the case forward to Sulochana Kapil,a social activist at Pokhran Road 2,Thane on Saturday (1st November) morning. Sulochana approached FDA regarding the open sale of sleeping pills. Sulochana told The Asian Age " Sometimes parental/school pressure forces students to take such extreme steps.We are also planning to address this issue at PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) meetings at various schools of the neighborhood. Parents will be advised not to pressurize kids for studies to avoid such dire consequences”
However Kailash, owner, Flora Chemists at Vasant Vihar-Thane about their shop’s alleged involvement is selling sleeping pills said, ” We never sell drug control medicines like sleeping pills etc without a certified doctor’s medical prescription. Our attendants have also been informed to give medicines strictly on prescriptions; even if they are regular customers.”
P.R Uttarwar, Joint Commissioner, FDA-Thane informed, " Such medicines cannot be sold without proper verification of customer’s medical papers, especially students. We will send drug inspectors to check on the chemist shops and curb this malpractice.”
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Labels: City
posted by Skimmy @ June 19, 2008
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