WITHDRAWAL EFFECT

• Traders scale down the quantity of sweet sap sold in the wake of intensive raids by the officials of the Excise Department
• Doctors confirm that not less than 200 patients with withdrawal syndrome seek treatment

Nizamabad: Toddy addicts in Nizamabad district are haunted by withdrawal syndrome following the retail outlets scaling down quantity of toddy being sold. The traders have been selling the toddy in small quantities in the wake of raids by the officials of the Enforcement wing of the Excise Department in the district for the last few days.

According to doctors, patients afflicted with withdrawal syndrome are increasingly visiting the hospitals. The symptoms include sleep disorder, anxiety, seizures and irritability. Some patients are suffering from hallucination too. The doctors told The Hans India that not less than 200 cases of toddy withdrawal syndrome were reported during the last two days.

Scarcity of toddy in the district occurred followed intensive raids by the officials of the Excise Department to eliminate illicit liquor and the sale of toddy laced with sedatives. The officials collected today samples from depots and sent them for laboratory test. There were allegations that the traders were selling toddy mixed with diazepam, lorazepam and Alprazolam.

Enquiries revealed that the government hospitals alone received nearly 80 cases, 16 of them women, since Sunday night. The cases were reported in Nizamabad city, Kamareddy, Bodhan and Armoor municipalities. Nizamabad Government Hospital Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Narender confirmed that as many as 80 patients had sought treatment in the hospital.

A few of the patients had even showed suicide tendencies. The patients were administered antipsychotic drugs. District Medical and Health Officers Dr Venkat urged the doctors in government hospitals to stock the medicines if more such cases were reported. Excise Deputy Commissioner Arun Rao said the government was determined to root out illicit liquor and spurious toddy once and for all.