Barbadians are attempting to smuggle cough syrup containing codeine linctus into North American countries such as Canada where they can fetch as high as $1 000 to $3 000 for a bottle which sells here for around $20.
Troy Wickham, Deputy Manager of the National Council on Substance Abuse, told the Sunday Sun this was one of the new money-making ventures which it had recently uncovered, adding this had once again led to discussions about making such drugs prescription only medication.
“We have recognised a lot of persons are actually purchasing cough syrups containing codeine linctus. It is starting to present a lot more reports of entry where persons are attempting to export it to North America where it’s controlled. There’s a huge market for it in North America. You can get close to $1 000 Canadian or $3 000 Canadian for one bottle, while you can get one cough syrup in Barbados for $20, in some instances, or less,” he said, pointing out that codeine was a precursor chemical for methamphetamine.
Research has shown that while cough syrups such as Dimetapp-C, Robitussin AC and acetaminophen with codeine were sedating pain relievers, some people have been taking them in greater amounts than prescribed in order to get high.
Wickham noted: “Basically, persons use it as a precursor chemical to manufacture methamphetamine. Therefore, persons are willing to pay a huge amount of money for it.”
Banned in Canada
In 2018, Canada banned the non-prescription sales of codeine, as it was becoming a widely used opioid that was linked to abuse and dependency.
Canada’s health department made pain pills, cough syrups and other familiar medications that contain codeine available only with a doctor’s prescription. A regulatory notice stated that about 600 million low-dose codeine tablets, or about 20 for every person were sold across Canada in 2015 amidst mounting concerns that more than 500 people entered addiction treatment centres in Ontario alone between 2007 and 2015, with non-prescription codeine as their only problem substance. It also recommended that children and young people not use cough and cold products that contain opioids.
Here in Barbados, such medicines are easily available from pharmacists, supermarkets, shops and service stations.
Wickham said the council was now working with the Barbados Drug Service to regulate the sale of medicines containing codeine linctus and recalled that a few years ago, young people here were mimicking their counterparts in the United States and North America by mixing cough syrups with Sprite in order to get a high. “We are working with the Barbados Drug Service to put things in place to control it and make it a prescription only drug,” he stated, pointing out that law enforcement at the port of entry had seized bottles of cough syrups from people travelling to their country. “The thing is, we recognise that a person legitimately will not need 20 bottles. So, I can say law enforcement is seizing it at the port of entry. It’s not illegal to buy them here so persons are literally going from pharmacy to pharmacy to purchase them because it’s lots of money. It’s a big business.”
When contacted Marlon Ward-Rogers, President of the Barbados Pharmaceutical
Society said most pharmacists would not dispense more than two bottles of cough syrup which contain codeine linctus but stressed they had no control over how many people could buy at other retailers.
“The pharmacists would not give you more than a bottle or two, maybe on prescription. They would never allow people to come in and buy a whole set. Remember, about ten years ago, there was a little epidemic here where people were using it to mix with different things. So, this isn’t nothing new. The good thing is we have cut down the use within our society to very minimal. We give persons other alternatives and we tell them the risks.”
Ward-Rogers admitted there was a problem because people could pick up these medicines at other retailers without medical advice being proffered.
“But when you can just buy from a gas station and other place no one is giving you the information, for instance, that it’s going to make you drowsy, so don’t drive or that some medications can cause stomach problems.”
He said people could develop a dependence on codeine linctus or it could have an impact on liver function if used in excess.
When contacted, the Ministry of Health issued a statement noting that it was an offence for individuals to handle a controlled drug which was intended for supply.
“Persons are encouraged not to travel with excess amounts of these substances as they can be subject to seizure at the ports of entry. Individuals are encouraged to seek permission from the Competent Authority in their home country or their country of destination before attempting to travel with controlled substances as import or export licences may be required.”
Medication warning
The Ministry also warned that the amount of medication used should not exceed the recommended dosage.
“This can lead to misuse of the product which can have a very negative impact on the health of the person taking the drug.”
It warned that under the Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Act CAP.131 it was an offence for people to misuse a controlled drug “All countries including Barbados that are party to the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB), play an important role in ensuring such products are used correctly for medicinal purposes, the misuse abuse or trafficking of such substances is highly discouraged and closely monitored.”
A United Kingdom report which examined the sales of over-the-counter products containing codeine in 31 countries, from 2013-2019 noted that 31.5 billion units of codeine, costing £2.55 billion, were sold over-the-counter between those six years. (MB)
