An eighth grader from a school in Samutprakarn was hospitalized after he overdosed on the pain killer Tramadol, a synthetic opioid readily available at Thai pharmacies.
The student said abuse of the drug had become a trend at his school and that students could obtain it from a nearby market for only THB2-4 per tablet.
The student’s mother said that she had noticed a recent change her son’s behavior. He had been consuming more soda, eating less and appearing confused.
Tramadol is typically used to treat severe pain. Although it is not as strong as heroin, it shares many of the same effects and is addictive. Tramadol can produce feelings of warmth and well-being, relaxation and sleepiness, especially when consumed with alcoholic beverages. In Thailand Tramadol is a non-prescription drug, Khaosod reported.
