Surkhet, July 31 -- The nature of drug abuse in Nepal's remote Karnali province is changing. Substances traditionally associated with addiction, such as heroin, brown sugar, hashish and cannabis, are no longer the only concern for authorities. Increasingly, young people are misusing prescription medicines intended for treatment, turning easily available drugs into a new source of addiction.

Police and health officials say the misuse of easily accessible prescription medicines, including sedatives, painkillers and other drugs prescribed for specific medical conditions, is becoming a growing concern across the province.

The abuse of medicines such as norethisterone, drugs prescribed for epilepsy, clozem, nitrazepam, tramadol and buprenorp...