**Rising Abuse of Cough Syrup Among Youth Sparks Health and Law Enforcement Concerns in Madhya Pradesh**
*Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh):* The recent tragedy in Chhindwara, where 16 children lost their lives after consuming contaminated cough syrup, has ignited widespread alarm over the safety of such medicines. However, another disturbing trend is emerging—the abuse of cough syrup as an intoxicant among the youth.
Doctors have issued stern warnings that excessive and prolonged consumption of cough syrup can cause severe kidney and liver damage. Despite these risks, many young people continue to use it as a cheaper alternative to alcohol. The syrup is easily accessible at most medical stores without requiring a doctor’s prescription, making it increasingly susceptible to misuse.
According to a medical store owner who spoke on the condition of anonymity, a significant portion of his regular customers purchasing cough syrup are young men seeking intoxication. Most of these individuals, he revealed, are not local to Bhopal but come from outside the city. Many are students or laborers who consume the syrup regularly, developing an addiction.
Meanwhile, Bhopal has emerged as a crucial supply hub for cough syrup across Madhya Pradesh. Police records from recent years indicate that shipments of cough syrup—often containing codeine phosphate or other narcotic components—originate primarily from Bhopal. These illegal trade routes extend to districts such as Maihar, Rewa, Satna, and Chhindwara, where addiction rates are climbing rapidly.
In a notable incident in February 2025, Indore police raided a warehouse near Hanumanganj police station, seizing 5,240 bottles of cough syrup and narcotic tablets worth nearly Rs 1 crore. Three accused individuals were arrested, who confessed that the consignment was being supplied from Bhopal.
Similarly, in February 2024, Bhopal’s Crime Branch cracked down on a major racket in Shahjahanabad, recovering 127 cartons of syrup worth Rs 25 lakh from a house converted into a godown. The main accused, identified as Ankit Bang, allegedly distributed the syrup across several districts, including Maihar and surrounding areas.
Earlier, in June 2022, Rewa police seized 3,040 bottles of syrup and arrested three individuals, one of whom was from Bhopal, further confirming the city’s central role in the supply chain.
Dr. Meet Dwivedi emphasized the health dangers associated with prolonged cough syrup use, stating that it can lead to irreversible damage to vital organs and serious long-term complications. He underscored that cough syrups and other medicines should be consumed strictly on prescription.
As authorities intensify efforts to curb this growing menace, public awareness and stricter regulation of cough syrup sales remain critical to prevent further addiction and safeguard lives.
*[Story by Staff Reporter]*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-news-cheaper-than-alcohol-cough-syrup-new-addition-for-youth-bhopal-emerging-as-supply-base