DEPUTIES CALL FOR COUGH SYRUP BAN

DEPUTIES yesterday called for a ban on over-the-counter sales of
codeine-based cough syrups, amid growing fears the medicine is being abused
by drug addicts.

Almost one in three heroine addicts had admitted to using codeine-based
products at some stage, according to statistics presented to the House
Health Committee yesterday.

All deputies agreed that codeine based medicines should not be made
available without prescription.

Health Minister Dina Akkelidou told the Committee that the Anti-drug Council
was in favour of banning over-the-counter sales, but that her department was
awaiting further advice from the Pharmaceutical services.

AKEL deputy Adamos Adamou, who submitted the issue for discussion said
codeine was often used as a stepping stone to harder drugs or served as a
substitute when addicts were short of money.

He said addicts cited ease of availability for their use of the product,
adding some had blamed it for luring them back to drugs when they tried to
kick the habit.

However, psychiatrist Kyriacos Veresies of the anti-drug organisation
Kenthea said turning cough syrups into a prescription medicine would be a
repressive measure.

He said research showed only a fraction of drug addicts had bought codeine
over the counter, adding they would need to consume five to 10 bottles of
cough syrup to get their fix.