Kalavoor: Sanitisers were made available at lower rates as preventive measures to fight COVID-19 were intensified. But some desperate tipplers have found alternative uses of the hand sanitiser and are allegedly using it for intoxication.
After it was noticed that some people were regularly buying sanitiser, the Kerala State Homeopathic Cooperative Pharmacy (HOMCO) have stopped retail sale. The Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (KSDP) too have regulated the sales.
Doctors have warned that the use of sanitiser to get high can lead to serious health issues.
Authorities noticed that some people were frequenting HOMCO and KSDP to buy sanitiser and the rush increases on holiday eve. After which, they regulated the sales. The maximum amount an individual can buy from the KSDP is only 0.5 litre.
Hand sanitiser contains about 65 to 70 per cent alcohol. Hydrogen peroxide and glycerine are also added to make the sanitiser. But it has been found that some people add thrice the amount of water and sweetened drinks to this to get high. Some have even found ways to segregate spirit and other chemicals reportedly.
Hazardous to health
A senior doctor cautions against the use of sanitiser and lists out the health hazards.
“If sanitiser is consumed, oesophagus, stomach, and intestine can suffer serious damage. It can also cause wound, tear or bleeding in the stomach. The thin mucous membrane is also likely to be affected. When the wounds heal after some time, the membranes might get stuck,” said Dr B Padmakumar, professor, general medicine, Alappuzha Medical College.
“All these will make it difficult to swallow food. A surgery might be needed to separate the membranes. Vomiting blood, stomach ache and black stools are symptoms. Apart from the immediate problems, there could be long-term consequences too,” he added.
