No prescription, just pain-killing addiction: UAE residents on 'happy pills'

At some point or the other, we’ve all taken painkillers to soothe our aches and pains, but there are some tablets that are more potent than the others, only because it could create a desire to stay “happy” and get us hooked for life.

These “miracle” tablets not only give instant relief to pain but also work as mood elevators.

Dr. Amin Hussain AI Amiri, Asst. Undersecretary for Medical Practice and License Sector in UAE Ministry of Health, added, “No pharmacy can give medicines such as Oxycontin without prescription. We conduct regular inspections and are watchful if anyone flaunts the rule.”

He even urged residents to inform the ministry if they know of any pharmacy that distribute such drugs without prescription.

Many patients get hooked even after completing their course, and devise numerous ways to stock up for later. They continue to pop them at will, not as painkillers but as a mood reliever.

Only, they don’t understand the implications of such drug abuse and how dependence on such tabs could create more harm than good.

“I was given a strong medication after I met with an accident. It not only controlled my pain, but it changed my personality too. After taking the tablets I noticed obvious changes in my behaviour. I was grinning a lot more and was chatty,” recalls Nihal R, name changed on request.

Although Nihal claims he hasn’t taken the wonder drug since, he does have a few lying around in his medicine kit but hasn’t taken any since.

But, not everyone exerts caution like Nihal.

Katherine, name changed, however, has been guilty of taking the “happy” pills whenever she wants to feel “happy”.

“It instantly makes me happy so what’s there not to like. When I get bogged down by work, I pop a tablet and feel that everything is OK,” she elaborates.

Even though it is tough to get the tablets here in Dubai, without a medical prescription, Katherine manages to stock up during her visits to India.

“Out here it’s tough to go to the pharmacy and get them without a prescription, so I buy a few whenever I go to India,” she adds.

What is shocking is that Katherine is not alone in this pursuit of happiness. There are many like her who are ‘addicted’ onto these medications without actually realising the disastrous effect it can have on their body and mind, and how it could lead to dependency and other complications.

“They want quick relief and are willing to overlook the side-effects. These drugs are extremely powerful, and if taken unsupervised could lead to other health problems,” explains a doctor at a leading hospital in Dubai.

“Some get used to these and are unable to face real situations on their own. They feel that they can’t do it without the help of the tablet. It turns into an addiction. They start self-treating, and using the tablet as mood elevator and not as pain reliever.

“It can lead to change in personality, create anxiety issues, and cause permanent damage to their body.”

From kidney failure to heartburn, to blood disorders, to hallucinations, to liver problems, to stomach ulcers, the impacts are many and shouldn’t be ignored.

“Whenever we prescribe a painkiller, or any drug for that matter we inform the patient about the side-effects. But many conveniently ignore it without realising how damaging it could be to their lives,” he adds.

Like all addictions, even those addicted to painkillers need to detox and the situation can be controlled and eliminated under medical supervision.

Pharmacies in Dubai are extremely cautious while handing out medications that need prescriptions. “While there are some pain relievers such as Panadol that don’t need prescription, we are careful if the customer is asking for prescription drugs,” reveals a pharmacist in Qusais.

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