Tramadol: "The Devil's Pill" That Mexican Cartels Traffic To The US And Africa

[Judi Lynn]

By Sol Prendido 3/29/2024 01:53:00 PM

With stops in Colombia and Guinea Bissau, the mafias of Sinaloa and Jalisco move “the devil's pill” in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo... Although it is legal in Mexico, the UN equates its addictive effects with fentanyl if consumption is doubled.

In Mexico it is a low-cost medicine that anyone can buy without a prescription, but in Africa it is an illegal drug that is ending the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. And, at the same time, it is a big business for Mexican cartels that could rival the fentanyl market.

It's Tramadol. An analgesic to relieve moderate to severe pain. Its sale is so common that even a teenager can purchase a box of 100 milligram tablets for less than 99 pesos in its generic version. It’s so common that it’s part of the usual assortment in the medicine cabinets of Mexican families, who tend to be unaware that—like fentanyl—Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that in a short time can generate a powerful addiction.

In Africa, these same pills have different names, depending on the country. Some call it the terrorists' drug; others, the devil's pill. If used in low doses, it numbs like morphine; But if used in high doses, it produces long energy spikes throughout the day like heroin, according to experts at the World Health Organization.

More:
https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2024/03/tramadol-devils-pill-that-mexican.html

[hatrack]

1. Since when does heroin produce "long energy spikes throughout the day"?

[OldBaldy1701E]

14. I consider this line a 'red flag' due to experiences with said substance.

I have never taken it myself, but I have been around plenty of people who have. To describe any part of that journey as 'energy spikes' is interesting, as there were no displays of energy that I saw. After all the decades of misinformation done in an attempt to discourage people from trying natural alternatives so that they are forced to use 'legal' substances (which are usually more dangerous than the natural ones, but that is another topic for another time), I cannot just accept what anyone says about 'illicit substances' anymore without some proof.

[badhair77]

2. I took Tramadol for short periods after my knee replacements.

As soon as I could drop it I did. It causes major cases of constipation. Interesting that taken in high doses it produces long energy spikes. Nasty stuff.

[LakeArenal]

3. I have a prescription for it tho it is OTC here.

I am allowed two a day and generally use 10 in a month.

It does exactly what it’s supposed to do and I’m happy I can have it when I want it.

[Basic LA]

6. OTC where?

I might relocate.

[LakeArenal]

7. Costa Rica. It's a fine place.

[Basic LA]

10. Sounds great from all I hear.

In the states, doctors think pain relief is a sin. The Puritans really left their mark.

[LakeArenal]

11. I just saw an ad for contraceptives.

In this Catholic country, they say use it for acne, bloating and nice hair😅

[Picaro]

4. I have a prescription for Tramadol

My experience is that Tramadol is a great pain reliever with fewer side effects than hydrocodone.

Tramadol has never made me nauseous or really given me a buzz. The extreme irritability that I experience with hydrocodone (I become almost homicidal when taking oxycodone) just doesn't happen. I haven't detected any euphoria. Unlike Advil, it doesn't mess with my stomach lining.

I can see why it's a popular drug in Mexico. Cheap and effective. Hard to beat.

A long term back condition has offered me the opportunity to become familiar with all sorts of pain relievers. Tramadol has been a game changer.

[Steve C]

8. Had scrip for 10 years

Took sporadically until last month when my doctor said he didn’t want me to become addicted and stopped it. I think pressure from higher ups.

[OldBaldy1701E]

15. Great.

They just want us to suffer, dude. That is all. They love it when we are in pain, because they can start offering all the crap that won't work to keep you coming back and giving them more money!

[MOMFUDSKI]

5. I take Tramadol for the constant pain of

sciatica and piriformis syndrome. It is the only pain pill I can take due to CKD. I only take 25mg/day. It is not addictive. I began taking it sporadically years ago when my kidneys started to go downhill from diabetes. I imagine that ibuprofen could help with the inflammation but I don’t dare.

[willamette]

12. addictive

Opioids are addictive. Tramadol is addictive, according to my orthopedic surgeon. That said, what worked the best for me after my last joint replacement was 1/2 Tramadol + 1 regular acetaminophen (Tylenol). It controlled the pain, and I was able to stop them altogether after a few days. Evidently, the two together have a synergistic effect (maybe it was one of the Doctor's Assistants who told me this), so they work better together than either one separately. Plus, I was able to use just 1/2 of the Tramadol dose to get that good effect.

[Chainfire]

9. I had some in the hospital, I called it damn-it-all.

[slightlv]

13. I've had it prescribed several times

over the years. I never got addicted to it... and I never found it gave me enough pain relief to go through any hassle with it. I will second whoever talked about the constipation. It always left me more constipated than any other opioid that I took. With lupus, fibromyalgia, and a back that the last doctor said he'd not recommend any further surgery, I'm well acquainted with pain meds. I always compared tramadol to a tylenol 3... they worked about similarly for me.

[OldBaldy1701E]

16. Me too.

Sometimes it does what they say it does. Sometimes, it seems like I am taking a placebo. Even hydrocodone APAP is hit or miss. Of course, because I am a cannabis user, they won't give me anything for pain regardless of whether I am incapacitated or not. So, I am 'retired' now because I cannot be physically dependable and no one will do anything about it other than shrug and talk about 'therapy'. That is cute when I can barely move on some days. Pain meds would probably help me get more active and able to do things, but we can't risk becoming addicted to something that might give me a few more years of relative activity (which I consider a decent enough trade off). When you are talking about someone who is in their early 30s and they are showing a desire to eat them like candy, okay. (I usually make a 30 day supply last 4 months. They don't care.)When you are talking about someone 60 or over who may or may not even exist much longer, are you really going to worry about that person becoming addicted? Really??