Interview with Lieut. Gen. Ahmed Al-Gamal – Part 1
Drugs that chemically and structurally related to Morphine are called Opiate (e.g.: Heroin, Codeine), and those which are only functionally related to Morphine are called Opioid (e.g.: Tramadol, Pethidine).
Alaa Babiker
As part of our mission to collect very useful information on drugs and their abuse in Sudan. We continue to interview experts whose work covers all aspects of drugs. This time we would like to shed light on the chemical components and side-effects of drugs, in an interview with a specialist in Pharmacology with more than 20 years of experience in the field.
Q1: Tell us about yourself please?
A1: My name is Ahmed Awad Al-Gamal. I am Lieutenant General of Police, Professor of Forensic Science, and consultant of Toxicology. I have graduated from faculty of Pharmacy with Honors degree, University of Khartoum. I also graduated from Al-Neelain University, Faculty of Law, and I have passed the Bar Examination for the practice of law. I trained at different institutions around the world and in Sudan.
Currently, I am the Chair of Narcotics and Psychotropics Committee of the National Medicines and Poisons Council. I am the Chair of the Foreigner Fair Subcommittee in the National Drug Control Committee. I also Chair the Medical Commission of the National Olympic Committee. I ‘represent’ the antidoping organization as a Secretary General of the Sudanese Antidoping Organization. I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Regional Antidoping Organization of Africa Zone-5.
Academically, I started teaching at Doha Qatar since 2001, and then later I started teach in Sudan in different universities including the National University, National Ribat, and Ahfad Universities. I teach aspects hat are mainly related to Forensic Science, Toxicology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacognosy.
I am an activist in the ‘field’ of Anti-Drug Abuse Campaigns, for which I have a Television Program in Al-Balad T.V. Channel called “Secrets of Evidences”.
Q2: What are the Chemical Compositions of Narcotics that are more prevalent in Sudan?
A2: Cannabis Sativa is the most abused drug, not only in Sudan, but around the world. The active ingredients are called Cannabinoids, which differ in their concentration, and are responsible for the pharmacological effects. Some important chemical compositions of Cannabinoids are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol and Cannabinol. They vary in their concentrations due to places of their cultivation, and unfortunately the plant that is cultivated in Sudan contains the highest concentration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and it is the most powerful hallucinogenic substance in Cannabis, and this is why it causes psychological effects and sometimes lead to committing crimes.
In regard to other currently abused drugs in Sudan, ‘we can find’ Tramadol, in which the active ingredient is Tramadol itself. But the chemical composition of this drug I classifies as a Narcotic-Analgesic. Tramadol is not structurally related to Morphine (Opioid), but is abused due to its other effects on the brain.
Drugs that chemically and structurally related to Morphine are called Opiate (e.g.: Heroin, Codeine), and those which are only functionally related to Morphine are called Opioid (e.g.: Tramadol, Pethidine).
The most dangerous chemical composition that is spread today is Methamphetamine (known as Ice), which is derivative. Amphetamines is also composed of other derivatives.
Q3: Why is the concentration of these substances is different from one place to another?
A3: These variations are because of many factors combined together: the soil, the atmospheric composition, the radiation characteristics, and the day time.
Q4: What is the difference between Ice and other Methamphetamines?
A4: That main difference lies in how it is consumed. Ice is inhaled, injected, or smoked, while other preparations can be taken orally in the form of Tablets.
Q5: What are the real uses of these chemical compositions?
A5: They are used as medical substances, for pain relieve and treatment of other diseases.
In Sudan we don’t have medical use for Methamphetamine and it is not even registered at the Medicines and Poisons Council, and even Amphetamine was used in the past to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but is not used anymore.
Q6: What are the medical effects of these poisons on the body of a healthy person?
A6: All the Narcotics and Psychotropic possess the property of being capable of passing through the Blood-Brain Barrier and reach the brain tissues. But they differ at their Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamic aspects.
Stay tuned to read the rest of the interview in Part-2.