The Barbados government is concerned at the increase in over the counter medicines and illicit substances by young people, who are bypassing pharmacies and using mobile phones and the internet to research and mix potent substances.
People Empowerment Minister Adrian Forde in his contribution to the Barbados Medical Products Bill, told Parliament that the Mia Mottley administration is very concerned over the pattern of substance abuse among young people that has shifted towards a dangerous mix of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs. ‘The poly-drug usage is causing sleepless nights for a lot of us, especially as MPs, members of cabinet,’ Forde said, adding ‘I think it causes sleepless nights for the prime minister.
‘The various drugs now, and the new drugs being used by not only adults, but the new advanced drugs being used and combinations by our young people.’
Poly-drug use refers to the use of more than one drug or type of drug at the same time or one after another. It can involve both illicit drugs and legal substances, such as alcohol and medications.
Forde noted the growing, largely unregulated trend in which young people bypass pharmacies, using mobile phones and the internet to research and mix potent substances, saying ‘here we have in this country a culture now creeping in where young persons are taking medication over the counter’
He told legislators that these young people ‘go to a lot of non-pharmacies.
‘They ain’t getting advice from the pharmacist, but because they have this cell phone, they have internet, they’re going and research different drugs, the different combinations, how to do this and how to do that.’
He also warned of the trend involving cough syrups containing codeine phosphate, which are being bought off the shelf and mixed with soft drinks and sweets to create a substance known as ‘lean’.
‘What those young people are doing now is taking those things, mixing them with Sprite and what’s not, Jolly Ranchers and calling it ‘lean’. Well, they lean themselves into trouble… the ones in Barbados, young people leaning not only on the side, they leaning upside down because after they’re taking these products, they can’t remember the activities that they are involved in.
‘I believe that this is one of the biggest fights that we must now, as a country, come together and unite and fight against the polydrug use by persons in Barbados,’ Forde said, noting illegal imports such as synthetic stimulants which are entering Barbados disguised as supplements.
‘Coming across our borders, we are having drugs, ecstasy, methamphetamine, we call it the ‘Mollies’. Mollies are being imported under the guise of vitamins That is where the pharmacovigilance must come into place.
‘That is where the vigilance at the port must come into play. If you are saying that it is yohimbe or ginseng in capsule form, then it is tested randomly. The lab report must come to show that it is indeed yohimbe, ginseng, or any other vitamin and not methamphetamine, as is the case sometimes.’
The Barbados Medical Products Bill proposes a stricter regulatory and enforcement system, repealing the 1950 Therapeutic Substance Act and updating existing drug control rules. Under the legislation, inspectors will have the authority to enter and search premises suspected of distributing behaviour-altering substances.
Forde warned of stiff penalties for those who breach the law, including falsifying prescriptions or tampering with labels.
‘Persons could be subject to an offence under the act…You can be charged on summary conviction, which is the magistrate’s court, of BDS$50,000 (One BDS dollar=US$0.50 cents) or five years in prison.
‘I advocate fine because you are dealing with people’s lives, you are dealing with life and death. We cannot afford to lose a life by playing Russian roulette with people and their medication, he said, noting the antimicrobial resistance globally as a major threat alongside climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.