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News: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recently busted a an illegal Alprazolam manufacturing unit in Valsad, Gujarat, under “Operation White Cauldron.”
About Alprazolam
- Alprazolam is a psychotropic substance regulated under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
- Drug Class: It belongs to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines.
- Uses: It is primarily used for the management of: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), Panic disorder (including panic attacks), Anxiety associated with depression.
- Mechanism: Alprazolam works by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a natural brain chemical that calms the nervous system, reducing excessive brain activity.
- Regulatory Act: It is regulated under the NDPS Act, 1985, which prohibits production, sale, transport, and consumption of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
- Legal Status: It is listed under India’s prescription-only schedules (Schedule H/H1) and can be sold only on a registered medical practitioner’s prescription
- Social Issue: The misuse of alprazolam in India drives illegal sales, fuels addiction among youth and workers, raises crime risks, and harms public health.
