Concerned over rampant misuse of cough syrups like Corex and Benadryl, the district drug authorities raided a distributor’s premises and some medical shops, which were selling it without any sales record in the city. led by executive magistrate Yasmita Singh, three teams conducted raids at Saraiwala distributor, the distributor of Corex cough syrup in Jugsalai and two other shops at Sakchi and Dhatkidih.

According to information, the distributor sold more than 2.43 lakh bottles of the Corex cough syrup in just five months without keeping a sales record. Sources added the codeine phosphate element in most of these cough syrups attracts youngsters, who get addicted from a 50-ml bottle of Corex, where the codeine content could be as less as 100 mg. An FIR has been filed against Saraiwala distributor at Jugsalai. 

During the raid at Jeevan Jyoti in Sakchi, the team also found that 12 banned medicines were also being sold. “The sales figures and that too without any proper record are alarming. We have come to know that there are some, mostly students, who come and buy a bottle for around `40 and gulp it down right outside the shop. Moreover, some drug addicts have turned to pain-relieving medicines like Iodex, too,” said a member of the raiding team.

Meanwhile, Yashmita Singh said that Corex contains codeine, a narcotic with addictive potential. Though it is meant to be sold only on prescription, it is no secret that they are easily available in the shops. Singh went on to inform that highest selling brands at the stores are those that are used by drug addicts. Corex, a cough syrup, is the top selling brand followed by Phensedyl, again a cough syrup. Both these syrups contain codeine, a narcotic.

“We have been receiving complaints over the misuse of the drugs and we decided to conduct raid. Everybody knows these syrups are misused. But pharma companies continue to manufacture them with the same combination as they have a huge market. We have decided to approach higher authorities to tighten the noose around the manufacturers too,” said an official, who was a part of the team.

Drug Inspector Alok Kumar said the distributor also did not have proper billing records to support the sale and purchase of the syrups and case has been filed. “We have found shops where cough syrups are sold in bulk without a trace," he said, adding that the shops are registering brisk business. He has ordered city cops to register FIRs against those who illegally sell and purchase cough syrups or tablets for addiction.