By Bohol Chronicle
Anti-narcotics agents and law enforcers here in the province can now apprehend peddlers and users of the substance nalbuphine hydrochloride (or commonly called Nubain) after its reclassification as a prohibited drug by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
Since last year, the DDB has been pressured by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to include the analgesic in the list of illegal substances.
In Bohol, Nubain has become one of three top drugs of choice among drug users as PDEA and police operatives have their hands tied against pushers and users abusing Nubain.
But with the reclassification of the painkiller as a dangerous drug effective January 28, 2011, law enforcers and even prosecutors can now file charges against abusers of the substance in violation of Section 5 or Section 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The reclassification of Nubain has been published in a newspaper of general circulation last January 13 which is a requirement of law before it takes effect.
According to a PDEA officer here, the new DDB regulation is a big leap in their campaign to minimize if not totally eradicate the abuse of Nubain as well as other commonly abused substances such as shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride) and marijuana which are already banned under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In fact, both the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan are now pushing for the enactment of a city and provincial ordinance regulating the sale and distribution of the analgesic.
Nubain is a synthetic opiate developed and approved for use as hydrochloride salt in injectible form of 10 and 20 milligram ampules.
The drug, which is primarily used for the treatment of severe acute pains, has been peddled by local drug pushers who source out their supply from Cebu City.
According to the PDEA agent, who asked not to be named, Nubain has emerged as the third most notoriously abused substance next to shabu and marijuana.
The PDEA, in coordination with police operatives here, have been closely monitoring the sale of Nubain including its entry into the province from Cebu City.
"We have already identified several drug personalities who are either actively peddling or abusing the substance. The long arm of the law will finally catch up on them," warned the anti-narcotics agent.
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