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Sweet drugs
Schoolchildren could be the innocent victims of these drugged 'sweets' being marketed as ayurvedic preparations

By Thiruni Kelegama and Vidushi Seneviratne
Your child comes home from school, laughing hysterically. An hour later, he is still laughing and elated. An unquenchable thirst for water, hiccups, acute dizziness and an unbearable headache follow.

Cannabis is illegal in Sri Lanka. So where do ayurvedic manufacturers get it?

"When cannabis is found on anyone, the police seizes it and hands it over to the courts. The percentage approved by the Ayurvedic Corporation is allocated from the seized amount of ganja. This is handed over to the officials there. The balance is destroyed," says Mr. Amarajith De Silva, OIC, Narcotics Bureau.

Take serious note of these signs, for it is not a laughing matter. Your child may be the victim of a drugged "sweet" freely available in boutiques or wayside stalls close to schools. The sweets which are harmless in appearance and come in small plastic sachets,contain cannabis (more commonly known as ganja). The innocuous, in fact not very appetizing, sticky sweet is Madana Modakaya. The sachet has no name of manufacturer or list of ingredients as required by Sri Lankan law.

"We tested bogus Madana Modakaya a number of times and each had an excess amount of ganja," says Government Analyst, Mr. T.W. P. Peiris

Why is nothing being done about the use of ganja, a prohibited substance, in this particular product?

The findings were interesting. From ancient times a small quantity of ganja has been used as an ingredient in ayurvedic preparations.

It is believed to give quick relief for indigestion, joint pains or even impotency.

There are four ayurvedic drugs, - Buddaraja Kalkaya, Suran Vidura Vatee, Ranahansa Rasayanaya and Madana Modakaya - containing cannabis listed in a publication of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.

In 2001, about 109 kilos of cannabis were used for these four medications of which 72 kilos went into Madana Modakaya, according to the Board.

A licence is essential from the Ayurvedic Corporation to produce these four substances, stresses Dr. Ramya Tennekoon of the Corporation. The manufacturer's name is also a must.

"To reduce the potency of ganja, it has to be fried in elangi thel (ghee). Then the chances of a person who takes it getting addicted is minimal," she explained, adding that the amount of cannabis would vary according to the preparation.

"Whether or not the legally allowed quantity of cannabis has been used is checked by the Ayurvedic Corporation. The officials here add the cannabis into the mixture brought to us by manufacturers. Unfortunately, only 10 - 25% of the products are brought here. The rest are put into the market illegally," she said.

The Sunday Times found that children are led to believe that Madana Modakayais a toffee with a tangy taste. Unknowingly and out of curiosity they may be tempted to taste it, leading to addiction.

Recent incidents of schoolchildren in Maharagama trying out Madana Modakaya were confirmed by the police. These are the cases that were reported. What of those that weren't?

The solutions being offered for this problem seem weak. One principal said the school authorities had advised students against buying these toffees. Meanwhile, the Colombo Plan International Society has held awareness campaigns in the form of anti-narcotics workshops in two schools in Maharagama.

But, considering the magnitude of the problem, the authorities need to take immediate preventive action to protect children from being exposed to addictive drugs once they exit the school gates.

Parents too need to beware. Bogus Madana Modakaya with a higher percentage of ganja seems to have got into the market and the most vulnerable are children.

Unwitting addicts
"There is a certain amount of intoxication after taking Madana Modakaya. Its continuous use by children could even lead them to more serious addictions such as heroin. There is always the possibility of such children becoming drug users," warns Ms. Dharshini Guniyangoda of the Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association (SLANA).

"While 'Ecstasy' and other such dubious substances are used by the more elite crowd, schoolchildren tend to use Madana Modakaya because it is cheaper and freely available. (A packet costs only Rs. 5)," she says.

SLANA's Associate Director explains that 'cannabis satival' is used in ayurvedic preparations, but what most people don't know is that the quantity is being increased. Then it is sold to schoolchildren. Madana Modakaya is commonly used in rural areas.

"There have also been numerous reports from the Eastern Province about another preparation called Laygium. When this substance was tested by the Government Analyst, it was found to have an intoxicating level of cannabis. The users, once again children, had complained of dizziness, headaches and sleepiness.

This product was advertised with sexual connotations - a picture of a beach, the setting sun and a man and a woman!" she said. Madana Modakaya is also advertised in a similar manner, alongside a picture of a body builder. This image is sure to attract younger children who yearn to be strong, she added.

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