Source: BangkokPost
Newspaper section: News
About 80 students, most of them in Prathom 4 and 5 (Grade 4 and 5), at Wat Tha Phra school in Bangkok Yai district were rushed to nearby three hospitals yesterday after suffering drug intoxication symptoms such as nausea, irregular heartbeat and severe headache.
They were found to have swallowed vast quantities of small yellow pills which were identified later as cough relief tablets containing dextromethorphan.
Twelve who were sent to Taksin Hospital were in serious condition and had their stomachs pumped.
Most of the students were in a stable condition and were discharged.
The students believed the tablets, which they bought for one baht each, had a wide range of properties - from smoothening the skin to making them smart to getting them high.
Taksin Hospital director Kittiya Srilertfa said initial tests showed the children had taken dextromethorphan - a cough suppressant which could have effects on the nervous system if more than recommended amount are taken.
Benjamas Rodsutthi, deputy director of the school, said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration school was alerted to the drug abuse in the morning by a parent.
"We made an announcement right away, telling the students not to take the drugs," Ms Benjamas said.
"But it was too late. Shortly after that the students fell sick."
Ms Benjamas said an initial investigation found the drug was introduced by a student at Prathom 6 who claimed to have bought the pills from a games shop near the school.
Cough tablets which are sold locally contain 15mg of the substance. Users are advised not to take more than 120mg a day. Use of the drug should be discontinued after five days.
The substance is known to produce euphoric effects and hallucinations similar to those of controlled substances such as ketamine when consumed in amounts exceeding maximum doses.
Food and Drug Administration deputy secretary-general Viravan Taengkaew said even though dextromethorphan was not classified as an abusive substance it could have deadly effects if more than the recommended dosage was consumed.
She said that those who sell the medicine without permission would face criminal charges.
Malinee Sukavejworakit, Bangkok deputy governor for public health, said City Hall had asked schools under its jurisdiction to keep a close watch on drug abuse.
She said the BMA would file a report with the Education Ministry so precautionary steps could be taken.
Jiraporn Limpananont, chairwoman of the Foundation for Consumers, said the incident reflected flaws in Thailand's public education on drug use as well as drug distribution and control systems.
The state has not educated consumers well enough on drug usage, especially on overdoses, she said. Even though drug use was part of the primary school curriculum, she said the process had failed.
There is also a loophole in the law controlling drug distribution by registered pharmacists, she said.
The law allows registered drug stores to operate with a pharmacist present for only three hours a day instead of on a full-time basis, she said.
Police yesterday took a games shop keeper opposite the school for questioning after reports the students bought the medicine from him.
Suwamit Montriwibulchai, 24, who admitted to selling the drugs to some students, was charged with selling medicine without permission. He said he only sold the tablets to high school, not primary school, students.
Mr Suwamit said he used the pills to treat himself and after a while he felt "rejuvenated".
"I told my friends about this and I guess the words spread to the kids who came to the shop," he said. "I sold the drugs for about two weeks and the customers kept growing."
Mr Suwamit said he sold the pills for one baht each and did not make any profit from the sales.
Police and FDA authorities yesterday raided nearby Sunny Pharmacy where Mr Suwamit said he bought the pills and found a large amount of dextromethorphan.
The owner faces charges of selling drugs without the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
0 comments:
Post a Comment