Heroin Seized in Ahmedabad to Be Used to Make Painkillers for Cancer Patients

The Government Opium and Alkaloids Factory (GOAF) based in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, has found a way to use a part of the 1500 kg heroin seized this July on a ship off the Porbandar coast.

GOAF is the national nodal agency that controls the supply of narcotic substances to domestic and international market.

Similar Story

Trio's 'Uber for Healthcare' Aims to Make Hospital Visits Easier in India

Kerala-based startup ‘Mykare Health’ was founded by Senu Sam, Rahmathulla T M, and Joash Philipose with the aim of building India’s largest affordable healthcare network.

Read more >

They have decided to use the stock to make painkillers out of it for patients suffering from chronic illnesses like cancer. Strong opioids like heroin, also called diamorphine, are used to treat severe pain in a number of countries.

The advantage of diamorphine over morphine is that it is fat soluble, and hence more potent by injection.

Out of the 1500 kg, 400 kg of the contraband had a chemical composition similar to morphine. This was ascertained by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) when it checked the quality and chemical composition of the contraband. So, the zonal unit of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) handed it over to the GOAF.

The rest of the heroin was incinerated at Ankleshwar on Saturday, reports The Times of India.

Talking about using morphine as a pain medication, an official told TOI, “It acts directly on the central nervous system to decrease the feeling of pain. It can be taken for both severe pain and chronic pain.”

Heroin is prescribed as a strong pain medication in the United Kingdom.

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: [email protected]
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!