An analysis of Suspected Pharmaceutical and Psycho-Pharmaceutical Drug Samples: Trends in the Non-Medical Use of Pharmaceutical Substances in Sri Lanka

Abstract: According to the World Drug report 2024, 292 million people use illicit drugs in 2022 and it shows 20% increase over 10 years. Further, 43% of women among people who use drugs in 2022, depend on non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids such as sedatives and tranquillizers. Prescription drug diversion is a major concerning challenge faced by many countries worldwide. Prescription drugs diversion involves the unlawful channelling of legitimated and regulated pharmaceuticals from legal sources to the illicit marketplace. This study was conducted by the National Narcotics Laboratory (NNL) of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) by analysing the Suspected Drug Samples received for routine analysis during the period from 2019 to 2022. These samples were referred to the NNL from various Law Enforcement and Regulatory institutions across Sri Lanka. Sample preparation was conducted using Methanol (AR) as extraction solvent and Samples received to the laboratory was confirmed using Agilent 8890 Gas chromatograph equipped with a 5977B GC/MSD and Bruker FTIR. Of the total number of samples received in 2019, 46% of the samples were given positive identifications related to the pharmaceutical substances. Out of this samples, 14% for tramadol, 28% for Pregabalin, 1% for Methylphenidate, Acetaminophen, Alprazolam and Diazepam were identified. In 2020, 71% of the incidences received from total cases were related to pharmaceutical substances (Table 5). From this 71% of the incidences, 59% cases given positive results for pregabalin and rest of the other samples given positive results for Gabapentin, Fluoxetine, Scopolamine, Ketamine, Codeine and Tramadol. In 2021, 18% and in 2022, 24% of the cases received to the NNL were identified as pharmaceutical substances related cases. From the above identified substance, Tramadol, Pregabalin, Diazepam, Methylphenidate, Codeine and Gabapentin control under the Sri Lankan Law, Keywords: Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, Psycho-pharmaceuticals, Drug Diversion. Title: An analysis of Suspected Pharmaceutical and Psycho-Pharmaceutical Drug Samples: Trends in the Non-Medical Use of Pharmaceutical Substances in Sri Lanka Author: Mayoni Abeynayake, Indika Wanninayake International Journal of Recent Research in Social Sciences and Humanities (IJRRSSH) ISSN 2349-7831 Vol. 13, Issue 1, January 2026 - March 2026 Page No: 30-36 Paper Publications Website: www.paperpublications.org Published Date: 30-March-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19338270 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.paperpublications.org/upload/book/An%20analysis%20of%20Suspected%20Pharmaceutical-30032026-6.pdf