BPOM launches SIGAP OM to curb teen medicine abuse

BPOM launched the Sentra Informasi Gerakan Antisipasi Penyalahgunaan Obat dan Makanan, or SIGAP OM, to prevent misuse of certain medicines among teenagers. The launch took place at SMAN 70 Jakarta on Thursday, with outreach aimed at students, parents and teachers. BPOM chief Taruna Ikrar said high school and vocational school students are a vulnerable group because of peer influence, curiosity and exposure to social media trends. BPOM said certain medicines are often misused because they are easy to obtain, relatively cheap and seen as carrying less legal risk than narcotics. Pharmacologically, such abuse can trigger dependence, brain damage, depression, suicide risk and death from overdose. BPOM also noted that joint operations with authorities in Jawa Barat and Jawa Tengah uncovered illegal factories and seized tramadol, triheksifenidil and dekstrometorfan.