Health
Public Health Ministry Bans Alprazolam, Xanax Due to Sex Crimes
BANGKOK – The Public Health Ministry has suspended sales of a stress-relief drug after it was used in sex crimes.
Two ministerial decrees are being issued which will make Alprazolam a banned psychotropic substance. Alprazolam is the generic version of Xanax.
They ban the manufacture, sale, import, export and possession of the drug, and will take effect on June 17, the Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Boonchai Somboonsuk said.
Dr Boonchai said sex crimes related to the drug have escalated. Some victims had died from taking the drug.
Some addicts take Alprazolam with cough syrup and a krathom-based cocktail known as “4×100”, Dr Boonchai said.
Under the decrees, drug stores will be prohibited from selling the drug and required to return all stockpiles to dealers or manufacturers.
Only state hospitals and medical schools are exempt. Other medical units and private clinics must seek approval before they can possess the drug.
Many know of the common “date rape” drugs titled Rohypnol (Roofies) and GHB, but fewer women know that Xanax is also as successful in sedating women. Xanax, aka alprazolam, is prescribed by doctors, “used to treat anxiety disorder and panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain,” according to the U.S National Library of Medicine.
Its side effects are listed as: changes in appetite, constipation, decreased sexual or ability, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, light-headiness, nausea, tiredness, weight changes. The side effect that is also clearly printed on the label but isn’t “common” is memory problems.
The drug that people take to calm their stress can cause a blackout time frame when used in larger dosage. It is a safer labeled drug that can accomplish the goal of wiping out the memory.
Among those who aren’t aware of Xanax danger, they associate it with a party drug aside from being prescribed for anxiety.
