Some users of narcotic painkiller Tramadol have revealed that high doses of 250 and 300 milligrams of the drug are sold in drinking spots and marijuana bases across the Ashanti Region.

Two users who have shared their addiction stories with Luv News in Kumasi say they also get their stock from drug peddlers from neighbouring countries.

They showed Luv News Erastus Asare Donkor, how they combine a concoction of 500 milligrams Tramadol with energy drink and a round of marijuana to give them the energy to perform any task.

“People call it all sorts of names; Gbang gbang, siasia ne siasia [to wit now now], Tramol and Red,” one user disclosed some of the street names of the drug.

He said some people buy it from the pharmacy while others get it from their ‘bases’ using all different code names understood only by the dealers.

The reporter watched on as some of the users mixed two 250mg tablets with energy drink and shook it until it was well dissolved.

“When it is like this, I get a roll of marijuana and enjoy the drink with it. I drink slowly, sweat, get high and the feeling is indescribable,” he said.

He said it prepares him for any task as it boosts ones your energy levels but cautions that if one does not eat before taking it, there are dire consequences.

“If you do not eat before taking Tramadol, you can collapse and foam at the mouth.

According to him, there is another type of Tramadol popularly referred to as ‘white’ which is the 300mg but is difficult to come by.

“One can mostly get some at Alabar or the Mayanka,” he disclosed.

 

Last week, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) referred 21 over-the-counter chemical sellers to the Pharmacy Council for stocking and selling high doses of Tramadol.

Nora Narkie Terlabi, the Ashanti Regional head of the FDA told Joy News, the exercise is to regulate the sale of the drug in the regional capital of Kumasi.

The FDA seized over 4000 tablets which are beyond the registered dose of 50 and 100 milligrams. It discovered that there was a lot of unregistered 200 milligrams being sold on the open market in the region.