Users of illegal drugs at high risk to COVID-19 – Former Chairman, NDDCB
Users of illegal drugs such as kerala ganja, cannabis and Ice can be vulnerable to the COVID 19 virus now spreading to all parts of the country due to their already lowered immune systems, Former Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board ( NDDCB) Emeritus Prof Ravindra Fernando told the Sunday Observer in an exclusive online interview. He said health officials are concerned that these drugs are being targeted at schoolchildren and young adults, and warned parents to be more vigilant of any unusual behavioural changes in their children, and monitor their extra curricular activities.
Explaining how it could make them more vulnerable to the COVID 19 virus, he said, “We know very little right now about COVID-19 and even less about its intersection with substance use disorders. (Substance use disorders or SUD are characterized by an array of mental, physical, and behavioural symptoms that may cause problems related to loss of control, strain to one’s interpersonal life, hazardous use, tolerance, and withdrawal.) But we can make educated guesses based on past experience that people with compromised health due to smoking or vaping and people with opioids (heroin), methamphetamine (Ice), cannabis, and other SUDs could find themselves at increased risk of COVID-19 and its more serious complications - for multiple physiological and social, environmental reasons. Doctors should thus be alert to associations between COVID-19 case severity and mortality and SUD-related lung disease. Doctors must also ensure that patients with SUD are not discriminated against, if a rise in COVID-19 cases places added burden on our healthcare system. ”
He said Marijuana or ganja is a combination of shredded leaves, stems and flower buds of the Cannabis sativa plant. “Marijuana can be smoked, eaten, vapourized, or brewed, but most people smoke it,” he noted. Commenting on the long term health impacts of using it he said, “The intoxicating chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Those who use marijuana are 26% more likely to have a stroke and 10% more likely to have developed heart failure. It can also raise heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent shortly after smoking. Marijuana also can reduce sperm production in men and disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycle.”
Asked how Ice, which was now being discovered in large quantities during recent raids by the authorities, could harm human health he explained, “Crystal methamphetamine, or Ice, is a stimulant drug, which means it speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It is stronger, more addictive and therefore has more harmful side effects than the powder form of methamphetamine known as ‘speed’. Ice affects everyone differently, but effects may include, feelings of pleasure and confidence, increased alertness and energy, repeating simple things like itching and scratching, teeth grinding and excessive sweating, fast heart rate and breathing, reduced appetite and increased sex drive.”
“Snorting Ice can damage the nasal passage and cause nose bleeds,” he further noted. “If ice is injected there is an increased risk of tetanus and other infections and damage to veins. Sharing needles has an increased risk of hepatitis B and C, HIV and AIDS.”
He said that taking a large amount of Ice or has Ice from a strong batch, can cause overdose. Increased heartbeat and chest pain, breathing problems, fits or uncontrolled jerking, extreme agitation and confusion, sudden, severe headache, unconsciousness, stroke, heart attack or death are the effects of Ice in overdose.
With the street value of Ice rising by the day, recent Police detections revealed that drug traders had devised new ways of hiding the drug and were now using even women and children to sell the drug, he noted.
Could Ice users also be more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus? Could they also transmit the disease to others? We asked him.
Responding to our question he said, “Ice, along with ‘speed’ and ‘base’, is a form of the potent stimulant drug methamphetamine. A history of Ice use may also put vulnerable young people at risk. Ice constricts the blood vessels, which is one of the properties that contribute to lung damage and pulmonary hypertension in people who use it. Therefore doctors should be prepared to monitor the possible adverse effects of Ice use, when treating those with COVID-19.”, he emphasised.
Protecting workers now and after lockdowns ease can minimise COVID exposure risks, says ILO
As the pressure mounts on countries to ease their lockdown restrictions, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged Governments to take action to prevent and control COVID-19 in the workplace, with active involvement and dialogue with employers’ and workers’ organizations.
In a press release the ILO has emphasised that all employers need to carry out risk assessments and ensure their workplaces meet strict occupational safety and health criteria beforehand, to minimize the risk to workers of exposure to COVID-19, says the ILO.
“ Without such controls, countries face the very real risk of a resurgence of the virus. Putting in place the necessary measures will minimize the risk of a second wave of contagion contracted at the workplace.”, it warns.
“The safety and health of our entire workforce is paramount today. In the face of an infectious disease outbreak, how we protect our workers now clearly dictates how safe our communities are, and how resilient our businesses will be, as this pandemic evolves,” said the Director-General of the ILO, Guy Ryder.
“It is only by implementing occupational safety and health measures that we can protect the lives of workers, their families and the larger communities, ensure work continuity and economic survival,” Ryder added.
In particular, risk control measures should be specifically adapted to the needs of workers at the frontline of the pandemic. These include health workers, nurses, doctors and emergency workers, as well as those in food retail and cleaning services.
The ILO also highlighted the needs of the most vulnerable workers and businesses, in particular those in the informal economy, migrant and domestic workers. Measures to protect these workers should include - among others - education and training on safe and healthy work practices, free provision of PPE as needed, access to public health services and livelihood alternatives.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for strong national programmes to protect the health and safety of health workers, medical professionals, emergency responders, and the many other workers risking their lives on our behalf,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, I call on all countries to assure well-defined, decent and safe working conditions for all health workers.”
To ensure a safe return to work and to avoid further work disruptions, the ILO recommends:
- Mapping hazards and assessing risks of contagion in relation to all work operations, and continuing to assess them following a return to work.
- Adopting risk control measures adapted to each sector and the specifics of each workplace and workforce. These may include:
- Reducing physical interactions between workers, contractors, customers and visitors and respecting physical distancing when any interactions occur.
- Improving ventilation in the work place.
- Regularly cleaning surfaces, ensuring workplaces are clean and hygienic, and providing adequate facilities for handwashing and sanitization.
- Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to workers where necessary and at no cost.
- Providing arrangements for isolating suspected cases and tracing every contact.
- Providing mental health support for staff.
- Providing training, education and informational material about health and safety at work, including proper hygiene practices and the use of any workplace controls (including PPE).