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Indian Drugs Users Now Opt For Synthetic Drugs
Use of synthetic drugs on the rise in India - Times Of India
Use of synthetic drugs on the rise in India
Deeptiman Tiwary, TNN Nov 25, 2013, 04.00AM IST
NEW DELHI: India is increasingly consuming more synthetic drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methaphetamine and mandrax than natural psychotropic substances such as cannabis and hashish. In what could be a worrying sign for the nation's health, economy and security, latest data on drugs seizure by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) shows that smuggling and consumption of synthetic drugs, which are far more addictive and injurious to health than natural ones, has been constantly rising while that of natural ones has been decreasing.
It has also been found that Punjab and Maharashtra, in particular Mumbai, lead the pack in smuggling and consumption of synthetic drugs.
Analysis of data for the past four years shows that between 2009 and 2012, smuggling and consumption of cocaine and ephedrine (used to make methamphetamine) increased by over 250% and that of methaqualone (mandrax) by over 4,200%. In the same period, use of ganja and hashish dropped by 64% and 23% respectively. Even morphine registered an increase of over 500% in the period.
Only opium among natural extracts saw an increase of around 100% over the period. However, opium is largely used to manufacture heroin by treating it with acetic anhydride, a chemical that India manufactures in large quantities. Heroin seizure itself has seen a marginal decrease of 1.7%. Interestingly, heroin seizures showed a decreasing trend till 2011 and then registered a sudden spurt in 2012, increasing by 100%.
"This is a very disturbing trend as synthetic drugs are far more harmful. Not surprisingly, in countries such as Netherlands, consumption of ganja and charas are legalized as it keeps people away from synthetic drugs," a senior NCB official said.
The data also showed smuggling and consumption patterns in various states. Not surprisingly, Punjab with its deeply entrenched drug problem accounted for almost 50% of all heroin seizures, indicating rampant smuggling and use. Of 1,029 kg of heroin seized in 2012, Punjab accounted for 506 kg. This is also due to the India-Pakistan border in Punjab largely being used to smuggle the drug into India from Pakistan.
However, the most disturbing figure comes out of Mumbai. The city is the biggest market for cocaine, accounting for 82% of all seizures last year. "Cocaine is extremely popular among the rich and mighty of the city. Its abuse is rampant in Bollywood and the glamour industry," an NCB officer from Mumbai said.
Among natural drugs, Andhra Pradesh leads the pack with 24% share of cannabis seizures and UP accounting for 50% of all hashish seizures.
Use of synthetic drugs on the rise in India - Times Of India
Use of synthetic drugs on the rise in India
Deeptiman Tiwary, TNN Nov 25, 2013, 04.00AM IST
NEW DELHI: India is increasingly consuming more synthetic drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methaphetamine and mandrax than natural psychotropic substances such as cannabis and hashish. In what could be a worrying sign for the nation's health, economy and security, latest data on drugs seizure by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) shows that smuggling and consumption of synthetic drugs, which are far more addictive and injurious to health than natural ones, has been constantly rising while that of natural ones has been decreasing.
It has also been found that Punjab and Maharashtra, in particular Mumbai, lead the pack in smuggling and consumption of synthetic drugs.
Analysis of data for the past four years shows that between 2009 and 2012, smuggling and consumption of cocaine and ephedrine (used to make methamphetamine) increased by over 250% and that of methaqualone (mandrax) by over 4,200%. In the same period, use of ganja and hashish dropped by 64% and 23% respectively. Even morphine registered an increase of over 500% in the period.
Only opium among natural extracts saw an increase of around 100% over the period. However, opium is largely used to manufacture heroin by treating it with acetic anhydride, a chemical that India manufactures in large quantities. Heroin seizure itself has seen a marginal decrease of 1.7%. Interestingly, heroin seizures showed a decreasing trend till 2011 and then registered a sudden spurt in 2012, increasing by 100%.
"This is a very disturbing trend as synthetic drugs are far more harmful. Not surprisingly, in countries such as Netherlands, consumption of ganja and charas are legalized as it keeps people away from synthetic drugs," a senior NCB official said.
The data also showed smuggling and consumption patterns in various states. Not surprisingly, Punjab with its deeply entrenched drug problem accounted for almost 50% of all heroin seizures, indicating rampant smuggling and use. Of 1,029 kg of heroin seized in 2012, Punjab accounted for 506 kg. This is also due to the India-Pakistan border in Punjab largely being used to smuggle the drug into India from Pakistan.
However, the most disturbing figure comes out of Mumbai. The city is the biggest market for cocaine, accounting for 82% of all seizures last year. "Cocaine is extremely popular among the rich and mighty of the city. Its abuse is rampant in Bollywood and the glamour industry," an NCB officer from Mumbai said.
Among natural drugs, Andhra Pradesh leads the pack with 24% share of cannabis seizures and UP accounting for 50% of all hashish seizures.
