Not long ago, the National Medical Products Administration, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission jointly issued a notice to further strengthen the management of high-addiction risk drugs such as pregabalin oral single preparations and Yumei preparations, and clearly prohibit online retail or disguised retailing of such preparations. The "National Drug Abuse Monitoring Annual Report" over the years has pointed out that the number of abusers of narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs and other addictive drugs is increasing year by year, and the abuse problem among minors is particularly prominent. Today (26th) is the 39th International Anti-Drug Day. Let’s focus on the “invisible killers” lurking around young people.
Substance Abuse: Beware of the “Invisible Killer” Surrounding Teenagers
Pregabalin oral single preparation: used for herpetic neuralgia, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and anxiety disorders. It has long-lasting analgesic effect. Excessive use will produce obvious euphoria, drunken relaxation, hallucinations, and can easily lead to psychological and physical dependence.
Yumei Preparation: It is often used in antitussive and phlegm-reducing compound medicines. The core risk comes from dextromethorphan. Excessive use can cause hallucinations and central nervous system damage.
In addition to these two types of preparations, the abuse of etomidate, compound tramadol, dextromethorphan and other drugs has also been serious in recent years, among which minors are at the highest risk. The "2024 China Drug Situation Report" shows that in 2024, 76,000 people under the age of 35 were investigated and dealt with for drug abuse, accounting for 86.4% of the total number of people seized for drug abuse. In 2025, the country will further strengthen the management of drug abuse, and the number of drug abusers among teenagers will drop significantly. However, the problem of addictive drugs being abused by younger and younger people is still prominent.
Online platforms sell prescription drugs and controlled anesthetic drugs using code words
If these narcotic and psychotropic drugs are used to treat diseases and are used under the guidance of a doctor, they are good medicines; if they are taken in excess or even abused to pursue special feelings, they become drugs. How do these drugs get into the hands of teenagers?
According to regulations, all controlled anesthetic drugs can only be purchased and used with a prescription issued by a licensed physician. Retail enterprises of Category II psychotropic drugs shall sell according to prescribed dosages based on prescriptions issued by licensed physicians; excessive dosage or sales without prescriptions are prohibited; and sales to minors are prohibited.
However, a reporter's investigation found that many people illegally sold prescription drugs and anesthetic drugs on online platforms, and formed a set of code words. Open an online platform and search for the keyword "pr80 Youmei", and various cryptic posts immediately pop up: "PR Xiaomei has a long-term generation", "Who is still worried about Pregabalin?" "If you can't prescribe Pregabalin, come to me, the homepage has" "The Pregabalin prescription is delivered by express delivery in seconds, come and check it out."
In the comment area of such posts, many people commented "asking for a prescription." Others commented, "We are not allowed to sell it here, and the children are like crazy, looking for it every day." "We usually sell it for 28 a box, but now the children are raising the price to 60 a box."
People who don’t know the inside story may not understand it, but in fact this is a set of code words:
Use "pr80" to refer to pregabalin;
Use "good night" to refer to amantadine;
Use "elegant" to refer to dextromethorphan.
Xing Xiaomeng, Director of the Addiction Ward of Beijing Anding Hospital: We have come into contact with some teenagers, and they may use social platforms, overseas purchasing agents, or online black market channels to purchase. Others share and resell the drugs among their inner circle of drug abusers.
Xu Chi, member of the Industry Development Committee of the Beijing Lawyers Association: Drugs such as dextromethorphan single preparations belong to the second category of psychotropic drugs controlled by the state. According to Article 347 of the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China", it is equivalent to drugs in the legal scope. Private sales online or take-out disguised retailing, regardless of the quantity, constitutes the crime of drug trafficking and shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law. Especially for selling to minors, the law clearly states severe penalties.
There is only a thin line between narcotics and drugs, and the consequences of abuse are serious
According to experts, repeated and large-scale use of drugs with dependence properties in non-medical destinations is tantamount to drug abuse. Substance abuse has an extremely damaging effect on the physical and mental health of adolescents.
According to experts, individuals may experience different feelings after taking large amounts of different anesthetic drugs, but the commonality is addictiveness.
Long-term drug abuse can lead to psychological problems such as loss of mood, anxiety, and depression. At the same time, minors' brains are not fully developed, and drug abuse may permanently alter brain structure and function.
Xing Xiaomeng, Director of the Addiction Ward of Beijing Anding Hospital: After addiction, some drugs may damage their cognitive functions, have negative effects on memory and attention, and may also cause damage to the nervous system, resulting in numbness of the limbs and the inability to walk. Excessive use of some drugs can cause liver and kidney damage, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. The mental and psychological aspects of teenagers will also be affected, such as hallucinations, delusions and other psychotic symptoms, which may also lead to depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. If used for a long time, it will also cause changes in their personality.
Build a strong barrier of family care and stay away from drug abuse traps
Adolescent drug abuse addiction is a social problem caused by the superposition of multiple factors. Although many departments in our country continue to carry out special rectification, the hidden dangers of adolescent drug abuse have not been completely eliminated. Addressing this problem requires the collaborative efforts of society, schools, and families. At the family level, a warm and protective line of defense needs to be established, and various control and education measures must be coordinated to jointly guide young people to avoid the trap of drug abuse.
According to reports, teenagers have insufficient understanding of the dangers of narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs and unlisted addictive substances, thinking that they are safer than common traditional drugs, so they try them out of curiosity or because of the instigation of their peers. Some youth groups, especially students and minors, lack the right channels to relieve stress and soothe their emotions when faced with growing pains such as family tension, improper parent-child relationships, study pressure, and campus bullying.
Experts remind that parents should pay more attention to behavioral changes and emotional abnormalities in teenagers. Excessive excitement, irritability, listlessness, increased expenses, or the appearance of unidentified pills and medicine bottles at home should be taken seriously.
Xing Xiaomeng, Director of the Addiction Ward of Beijing Anding Hospital: If any abnormality is discovered, family members should first control their emotions, communicate with him, and understand his current difficulties. If there is a strong suspicion of drug abuse, it is recommended that the family take the child to the addiction department or substance dependence department of a regular medical institution for treatment in a timely manner.
(CCTV reporters Mou Titi and Li Han)
