The Nation Newspaper

Tag: codeine

  • Codeine: Pharmaceutical firm launches probe

    One of the pharmaceutical firms mentioned in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) video documentary on codeine production and distribution, Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited, Ilorin yesterday said it has begun thorough investigation into the case.

    The company added that it has suspended the store man shown in the video with immediate effect.

    It added that the ongoing investigation would reveal the level of culpability of the staff.

    Speaking with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, its Managing Director, Mr. Rahamon Bioku, said the store man would be eventually sacked, if found guilty.

    He added that the worker did not have any control on sales and distribution of any of its National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approved 58 products.

  • Senate hails Fed Govt’s ban on codeine

    THE Senate has hailed the Federal Government for the ban on production and importation of codeine syrup.

    At its plenary session yesterday, the lawmakers observed that codeine was one of the drugs so much abused in Nigeria.

    Speaking on the matter, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan said: “You will recall in October last year, this Senate debated and took resolutions on a motion specifically dealing with the abuse of drugs, particularly codeine syrup in Northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.

    “The report at that debate was that between Jigawa and Kano states, over three million bottles of codeine are consumed on a daily basis. Today in Nigeria, there is hardly one single family that does not have an addict of some sort.

    “This is the most destructive phenomenon in Nigeria after the killing by Boko Haram and the bandits. Nigeria is supposed to be much more worried of addiction than any other situation.

    Lawan noted that the Senate President Bukola Saraki led a delegation to Kano last year with the view to finding ways and manners of dealing with the situation.

    Lawan continued: “I believe that today between the executive and legislature, we have found a common ground. We debated and took resolutions. The executive have found enough reasons and grounds to ban the importation of this deadly syrup.

    “I feel the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and our committees on drugs and narcotics should work with the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC on the implementation of this ban.”

    Saraki, while commenting on the matter said, “Let me commend the Minister of Health and NAFDAC who have responded quickly to this.

    “The committee should ensure proper oversight to see that this ban is strictly adhered to. It is a great day for those of us advocating the tackling of drug abuse, which is affecting many of our girls and women. Let’s see that this is restricted. This is one of the good things the two arms of government are working on together.”

     

     

  • FG bans production, importation of Codeine syrups

    The Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

    The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole made this known in his office in Abuja.

    He said that the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of Codeine usage has been subjected to in the country.

    In its stead, the Minister said Codeine containing cough syrups should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.

    He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labeling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups in the country, while he has also banned sales of Codeine containing cough syrup without prescription across the country.

    He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug administration and Control had an emergency meeting with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMGMAN) to inform them that there is an embargo on all new applications for registration of codeine- containing cough syrups as well as applications for renewal has been abolished.

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has been directed to continue enforcement activities on Pharmacies, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor’s Shops and outlets throughout the country.

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was also directed to fully carry out its functions among others: to regulate and control the manufacturing, distribution and sale of drugs, including inspection at points of entry of drugs, drug products and food for compliance with the new directive.

    The Minister stated that the FMOH shall ensure collaboration among regulatory agencies namely, NAFDAC, PCN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), for effective implementation of extant Acts, regulations, policies and guidelines on codeine control and usage.

    ‘Furthermore, these agencies shall work together to increase pharmacovigilance around codeine, tramadol and other related substances of abuse,’ Adewole stated.

    Already, NAFDAC has developed Information-Education-Communication (IEC) materials that will be used in an already planned national campaign against drug abuse, an awareness programme that includes Young Pharmacists Group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. This will soon be flagged off in Kano and Lagos.

    As a way of discouraging youths to shun the drugs, the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health shall partner with National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Football celebrities, members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Performing Musicians of Nigeria and other celebrities to drive national campaign against drug abuse.

    ‘The FMOH shall ensure that Drug treatment intervention for victims of substances abuse shall be undertaken across the spectrum of health care delivery system in the country,’ Adewole stated.

    He stated that Civil Society Organisations shall be strengthened to deliver effective sensitization, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.

    Recalled that in view of the serious public health concerns drugs abuse poses to Nigerians , a working group which comprised of experts from various Ministries, Agencies of Government (including regulatory agencies), Development Partners and Associations was constituted in January and tagged Codeine Control and other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG).

    The CCRWG was formally inaugurated on January 23, 2018 with clear Terms of Reference of developing key recommendations and strategies to address the menace of codeine, tramadol and other related substances in Nigeria.

    The CCRWG submitted its interim report on April 12, 2018 and recommended short-, medium- and long-term measures for implementation in a memorandum submitted to the Minister, today, 1st of May 2018.

    Finally, Professor Adewole restated the commitment of FGN to ensure the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) by January 01, 2019 and closure of all open drug markets penultimate the implementation date of the NDDG that is, December 31, 2018. It is a public knowledge that easy access to codeine, tramadol and other substances of abuse is promoted by the chaotic drug distribution system.

  • FG bans production of codeine syrups in Nigeria

    As part of efforts to tackle drug abuse in the country, the Federal Government on Tuesday banned the production of codeine containing syrup in the country.

    The federal government also banned sales of codeine containing cough syrup without prescription across the country.

    In its place, government recommended dextromethorphan which is less addictive.

    The Assistant Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Health, Olajide Oshundun, said in a statement the ban takes immediate effect.

    According to the statement, importers must now get clearance before importing codeine pharmaceutical ingredients for cough preparations.

    The federal government also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups in the country.

    It argued that the action became necessary because of serious abuse of the drug.

    The statement reads: “Federal Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

     

  • Drug abuse: FG sets up 16 member committee on codeine, others

    Drug abuse: FG sets up 16 member committee on codeine, others

    …to consider banning, supply chain of drugs among others

    Piqued with the increased cases of abuse of drugs among the populace, the Federal Government has set up a committee to review the continuous usage of codeine, Tramadol and other related substances in the county.  

    The 16 member Committee on the Codeine Control Working and other related Matter Group ( CCRWG ) which has Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku as the Chairperson has four to six weeks to turn in its preliminary report. 

    Inaugurating the committee yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole said that it was very important to break the supply end of the drugs.

    The minister stressed that the government must prevent people from causing harm to themselves and to the society. 

    In the recent times, Adewole said the government had confisicated and destroy many of these products.

    He however said that the rate at which people have resorted to drugs, has necessitated the need to find out why they are using these drugs.

    “It is not enough to destroy the products or enforce regulations ,we need to find out why they are using these drugs,” he stressed.”

    The terms of reference which the minister said is limitless include:  To look into the distribution system of the drugs; how the drugs get into the market; how can we manage the system; are these drugs so essential that we cannot ban them; are there no alternatives. 

    Also speaking, the Registrar, Pharmasist Council of Nigeria ( PCN ), Elijah Mohammed said that the safety and concerns around the use and misuse of codeine containing preparations are assuming frieghtening dimensionin some part of the country.Mohammed noted that even as the nation strives to create a sanitized drug distribution system through the National Drug Distribution Guideline ( NDDG ), to arrest the issue, it must be aware that a large number of Nigerians are already addicted to some of these medicines adding that PCN is currently working with technical group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to address the challenge.

    He observed that with the inauguration of the working group,  the issuing of permit for manufacturing of codine would be  controlled in order to have less consumption

    In her remark, the Chairperson of the committee, Prof Oluwatoyin Odeku said the  misuse of drugs is widespread among youths in the country. 

    Odeku also stressed the need for orientation change among the people and the need for proper education on the effect of drug abuse. 

    She however promised that the committee will do all that is necessary to ensure that the problem is tackled.