The FDA after meting out initial punitive measures to the shops, has referred them to the Pharmacy Council for investigations and possible prosecution as part of measures to stop the increasing abuse of the Tramadol drug by the youth especially those in senior high schools.

The Ashanti Regional branch of the FDA headed by Mrs. Nora Narkie Terlarbie disclosed during a press briefing on Thursday.

She stated further that about 5,000 very high dosage of Tramadol tablets have been seized from the said chemical shops, many of which are located near Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region.

The chemical shops (over the counter) are not permitted by law to sell Tramadol while Pharmacies that are authorized are to dispense strictly on a doctor’s recommendation.

The FDA has registered only the 50mg and 100mg of the Tramadol tablets but during a market surveillance, it was revealed that as high as 129mg and 225mg were on the shelves of some of the chemical shops.