.

 DEATHS : DUE TO DRUGS Drug dependence is characterized as a chronic disease with many relapses. Substitution maintenance therapy with methadone or buprenorphine improves the health and social performance of opioid-dependent people and decreases the use of illicit drugs and the crime rate. Statistics show that investment in prevention pays off well: every dollar invested in drug treatment saves seven dollars in health and social costs. Dextropropoxyphene is a synthetic weak opioid used as analgesic both as standalone as well as in combination with acetaminophen for more than 50 years. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has issued a gazette notification (dated May 23, 2013) suspending the manufacture, sale, and distribution of dextropropoxyphene and formulations containing dextropropoxyphene in the country. Overdose related deaths including suicide Concerns have been expressed regarding the extent of fatal self-poisoning with dextropropoxyphene/acetaminophen comb