Tighten regulation of Esketamine-containing drugs to prevent abuse and addiction risk

Esketamine is an isomer of Ketamine - a psychotropic substance, which has been included in the controlled list at number 40 in list III of Decree No. 57/2022/ND-CP.

Esketamine is an isomer of Ketamine - a psychotropic substance, which has been included in the controlled list at number 40 in list III of Decree No. 57/2022/ND-CP.

The Ministry of Health has just issued an official dispatch requesting medical agencies, units and pharmaceutical businesses nationwide to strengthen control of drugs and drug ingredients containing the active ingredient Esketamine, and affirmed that Esketamine is a narcotic substance on the list of controlled substances in Decree No. 57/2022/ND-CP of the Government.

The Ministry of Health requires drug manufacturing and trading establishments to strictly inspect and monitor drug ingredients containing Esketamine.

According to Official Dispatch No. 366/BYT-QLD, the Ministry of Health received a notice from the Department of Drug Crime Investigation ( Ministry of Public Security ) about the use of drugs containing Esketamine and related products, showing signs of violations in the illegal use, storage and consumption of these drugs.

Esketamine is an isomer of Ketamine - a psychotropic substance, which has been included in the controlled list at number 40 in list III of Decree No. 57/2022/ND-CP. This is an active ingredient that has addictive effects and can lead to abuse, increasing the risk of addiction, and more seriously, can lead to mental health problems.

To effectively manage Esketamine, the Ministry of Health requires its affiliated units, including hospitals, medical facilities, and pharmaceutical businesses, to strictly implement regulations on drug control.

Accordingly, the circulation, consumption, and import of drugs containing Esketamine must comply with strict procedures. Specifically, facilities must comply with the provisions of Vietnamese law as well as the International Convention on Narcotic Drugs, ensuring the prevention of loss and abuse.

In addition, the Ministry of Health also requires drug manufacturing and trading establishments to strictly inspect and monitor drug ingredients containing Esketamine. This is an active ingredient with a high risk of being exploited to produce products that do not meet quality standards or are illegally traded.

Faced with the increasing presence of Esketamine on the market and signs of increasing abuse, the Ministry of Health has also coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security to strictly manage the import of Spravato - a product containing Esketamine used in the treatment of depression.

Also following the direction from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Health needs to research and add Esketamine to the list of drugs requiring special control. This will help ensure that the import, export and use of drugs containing Esketamine are carried out in accordance with regulations and are not exploited for illegal purposes.

Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for fully implementing the procedures for applying for an Import License for each batch of drugs containing Esketamine, and closely monitoring the distribution and consumption of the product.

Esketamine, similar to Ketamine, is a psychoactive substance that can be addictive and have adverse health effects if not used properly. Since 2020, the Ministry of Health has recorded a number of cases of people using products containing Esketamine without a doctor's prescription, leading to abuse and causing serious health problems.

In particular, Esketamine can cause mental disorders, hallucinations, and memory problems if used improperly. Therefore, strict control and careful management of products containing this active ingredient are extremely important.

Over the years, the management of narcotic drugs in Vietnam has been improved, but the emergence of new drugs such as Esketamine is posing significant challenges in control work. The Ministry of Health said it will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure that these active ingredients are not abused for bad purposes.

With the aim of preventing the increase in the misuse of drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients, the Ministry of Health has also issued detailed instructions on the inspection and supervision of the import and export of drugs containing Esketamine, and at the same time requires pharmaceutical businesses to keep complete records related to this product.

Previously, in Official Dispatch No. 296/VPCP-KGVX, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long also directed the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to study and report on measures to control products containing narcotic substances, including seeds containing narcotic substances from opium poppy and cannabis, to prevent abuse in food or pharmaceutical products.

In addition, these agencies are also required to have specific proposals on the control of drugs containing Esketamine and related products, especially for drugs used in the treatment of depression, which is showing an increasing trend of use in the community.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/siet-chat-quan-ly-thuoc-chua-esketamine-de-ngan-ngua-lam-dung-va-nguy-co-nghien-d242580.html