Captagon pills being destroyed

Close-up of over 300,000 Captagon pills being burned in a barrel in southern Syria. Captagon is a stimulant which is illegal in most countries. In the 1960s, it was prescribed for conditions such as ADHD, narcolepsy and depression, but was banned by many countries around 1986, as the addictive properties and long-term side-effects were deemed to outweigh the medical benefits. These adverse effects include extreme depression, sleep deprivation, heart and blood vessel toxicity, and malnutrition. Use and trade is still prevalent in Europe and the Middle East, where it is used both recreationally and as a stimulant for soldiers in combat. The active ingredient in Captagon is fenethylline hydrochloride. This is broken down in the body to produce amphetamine and theophylline, which stimulate the central and cardiac nervous systems. Photographed on 12 June 2018., by US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Staff Sgt. Christopher Brown/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY