An awareness seminar for medical shop owners and pharmacists on narcotic and psychotropic substances was held at the JNTU auditorium in Anantapur on Monday. The event was held under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP) P. Jagadeesh, EAGLE Wing IGP, Aake Ravi Krishna who addressed the participants virtually and explained the drug control measures and legal action.
Mr. Ravi Krishna said that ‘Operation Garuda’ has been launched to control drugs in the state and strict surveillance and surprise inspections are being carried out in medical shops across Andhra Pradesh. Last year, around 100 special inspection teams were formed to carry out large-scale inspections at the same time. Strict action will be taken against sale of non-prescription drugs, especially Schedule-H, H1 and X drugs, he said.
The EAGLE IGP has expressed concern over the increasing use of substances such as cocaine, sedatives, alprazolam and amphetamines among the youth and said medical shops must strictly follow legal guidelines. He emphasized the need for cooperation between the police, the anti-narcotics department and the public in controlling drug abuse.
Citizens can report drug-related information or suspicious activity by calling the toll-free EAGLE 1972 line and their information will be kept confidential, he said.
Mr. Jagadeesh said that medical shop operators and agencies must strictly follow regulations and government guidelines. Legal action will be taken against the sale of over-the-counter drugs, he said, adding that drug abuse harms not only individuals but also families and society.
On the occasion, Dr. K. Viswanath Reddy, a psychiatrist from the city, explained the mental health problems caused by the misuse of drugs and medicines. Drug Control Administration Deputy Director O. Veera Kumar Reddy explained the rules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, licensing and record keeping.
Published – 23 March 2026 20:31 IST
