The Hindu Business Line : Were the gunmen on drugs for sustained energy?

These medicines kill appetite and allow people to continue work for long hours without sleep, explained doctors, even as this line of investigation is being pursued by the police. A final forensic report is still awaited, and could be available in 10 days, a hospital source told Business Line.

Like coffee or caffine helps freshen-up people when they are fatigued, amphetamine medicines do not give energy but they stimulate the central nervous system, said a doctor with Mumbai’s J J Hospital. Several of those injured from the three-day attacks in Mumbai by gun-totting men were taken to the J J Hospital. The hospital is also involved with the autopsy and forensic procedures related to the terror attacks.

“Amphetamine acts by increasing levels of certain chemicals in the brain (Norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine) in the brain leading to increased mental and physical activity, elation, euphoria and insomnia. Amphetamine also produces wakefulness, decreased and postponed fatigue and improved physical performance. Yes it also leads to appetite suppression,” said Dr Urmila Thatte, Head of Clinical Pharmacology with Mumbai’s Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital.

Banned?

Doctors further point out that these medicines are extremely restricted under the NDPS Act (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) and are not prescribed usually. Some doctors say that these drugs are outright banned in markets including India, the US and the UK. But others say they are available under controlled conditions; for instance, some Morphine is processed for end-stage patients as in terminally-ill cancer patients by the Indian government and is given in “very tightly controlled” circumstances and sold in selected hospitals only, a hospital source said. Illegaly, however, they are sold as recreational drugs, similar to those seen in rave parties, the source added, indicating to a thriving underground trade.

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