Abstract
The drug abuse monitoring study of Regional Medical Research Center, Dibrugarh, reported 181 and 395 addicts from the states of Assam and Nagaland respectively in one year. Of these, 48 (26.5%) and 49(12.4%) cases were contributed by the primary abuse of codeine containing cough syrups. A11 addicts were males in their early twenties. Most of the addicts were unmarried and educated up to matriculation. The majority of addicts in Assam were Hindus (85.4%) and in Nagaland Christians (81.63%). Unemployment was predominant in both the groups. The mean age for the first use of codeine cough syrup was 17.44 years (Assam) and 15.77 years (Nagaland). Nagaland had more chronic abusers. Addicts were used the oral route several times a day and friends were the main source of introduction. Mild forms of physical and psychiatric disorders were reported Easy over-the-counter availability, lesser expenditure, milder withdrawals and ease of consumption without secrecy were some of the reasons for the emergence of this new form of addiction in Assam and Nagaland.
Keywords: Codeine, over-the-counter cough syrups, addiction
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