High on Danger

A YOUNG KOCHI-BASED physician, who occasionally attends private night parties, was appalled to once see a group of young people under 25 snort­ing a cocktail of painkillers, including Dolo 650, a common fever-reducing tablet. Others were drinking and smoking while the air reeked of cannabis. “They just want to experiment because MDMA (Methylenedioxymetham­phetamine) isn’t available today,” someone explained. MDMA comes in tablet form (Ecstasy) and as crystals (Molly). Another person quipped, “Vallabhanu pullum aayudham (for the smart, even green grass is a weapon).”

In reality, there is nothing smart about dependence on synthetic drugs, which often lead users down a slippery slope of physical and mental health struggles into the vortex of a dangerous lifestyle. Kerala is among the new states battling a major drug addiction crisis, with rising sales of LSD (available as stamps), MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, and other substances.

The situation is deteriorating in Indian states traditionally linked to the illegal drug trade. Positioned between the Death Crescent in the west and the Death Triangle in the east, India—once a mere transit point—has now become a buyers’ market, particularly a ‘buyers beware’ market due to the flood of cheap drugs catering to the masses, while the wealthy secure high-quality cocaine and other substances.

The quantity of drugs seized nationally from 2014-24 has quadrupled from a decade earlier. The value of drugs seized has risen from ₹40,000 crore in 2004-14 to ₹1.5 lakh crore in the decade ending 2024, according to figures offered by the Union government.

Mumbai-based Raj Kumar, who works in the entertainment industry, argues that the city offers the best-quality cocaine, likely due to its affluent clientele. “Recent crackdowns on syndicates and labs within India prove that the demand for high-end synthetic drugs is rising,” he notes, a claim corroborated by police sources.

“This trend isn’t limited to Mumbai; high-profile users exist nationwide, while drug consumption has surged across all price points, from schoolchildren to senior citizens,” says a Delhi-based health ministry official.

A few former drug users surveyed by Open suggest that couriers (or pushers) supply­ing MDMA, LSD, and cocaine operate mainly through word of mouth. “Contrary to the belief that pushers are addicts themselves, many are professionals who keep their indul­gence in check to safeguard their business. While some may use, the idea that they are all ‘heavy-duty’ addicts is a misconception,” says one respondent from Delhi. Good-quality MDMA costs around₹10,000 per gram in metros, with users employing testing kits to check purity. “Cheaper variants are often adulterated with Dolo, chalk, or tube powders,” notes a former drug addict from Hyderabad.

The Kochi-based doctor observes that increased access to mental health medication—driven by greater awareness and willingness to seek help—has led some to misuse pre­scription drugs in recreational concoctions. “Access to these medicines, including painkill­ers, is at an all-time high. Young people are experimenting with combinations,” she says.

A Bengaluru-based former drug user, now active in counselling addicts, reveals that cocaine in vials sells for ₹35,000 to ₹65,000, depending on quality. “Each vial contains 80-100 drops, which are typically used by mixing with water,” he explains. Prices fluctuate based on location, supplier, and origin. For example, a stamp of cocaine costs ₹3,000 in South India, with prices varying elsewhere based on supply dynamics.

Police sources note that pushers come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

In some areas, mall salespeople and autorick­shaw drivers sell cannabis and cheap drug-laced powders. Conversely, cocaine dealers are often flamboyant and middle-class. LSD, an expensive substance, is sold as stamps, sugar cubes, and in vials.

Consumption methods, too, are often unconventional. Some users soak almonds in LSD before eating them while cannabis is now available in gummy form. “Drugs fall into two categories—uppers (which boost energy) and downers (which induce drowsi­ness). People choose based on their desired ef­fect,” explains the Bengaluru source. Cheaper drugs include solvents like thinners and other impure substances.

Dr Rachna Khanna Singh, a mental wellness expert at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, notes that drug use patterns vary by age and back­ground. “Among teenagers and young adults, cannabis (weed/charas), MDMA (Ecstasy), LSD (stamps), cocaine, and prescription drugs are common. MDMA and LSD dominate Delhi’s nightlife while prescription drug misuse has surged due to peer influence and easy access.”

She highlights a troubling trend: the misuse of anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax, Clonazepam, and sleeping pills, often mixed with alcohol or other substances to amplify effects. “This cocktail can be lethal due to its impact on the central nervous system,” she warns. Among adults, cocaine, opioids (heroin/smack), sedatives, and prescription painkillers are most popular. “Many initially take benzodiazepines for legitimate reasons but develop dependence. Lower-income groups turn to inhalants (glue, whitener), heroin, and synthetic opioids,” she adds.

Delhi-based psychiatrist Dr Kushal Jain from the Centre for Behavioural Sciences believes that the dangers of cannabis are underestimated. “I oppose legalisation of cannabis—it has mind-altering properties detrimental to phys­ical and mental health,” he argues. The affordability of cannabis compared to cocaine and MDMA makes it India’s most accessible drug. “I regularly treat cannabis users suffering from panic attacks and psychosis,” he notes.

“Tobacco and alcohol don’t interfere with the brain’s harm-avoidance circuit. But with cannabis and synthetic drugs, users fail to recognise their addiction as the root of their problems. There’s no guilt, making quitting harder,” Jain explains, challenging the perception of cannabis as ‘harmless’.

Experts examining the social impact of hallucinogens warn of their de­structive potential. They argue that addiction fosters paranoia, amplifying susceptibility to indoctrination.

Both Jain and Singh express their concerns about high relapse rates. “Relapse is more common than people realise—40-60 per cent of those trying to quit relapse at least once. But relapse isn’t failure. Addiction rewires the brain’s reward system, meaning triggers like stress, emo­tional distress, or old habits can reignite substance use. It’s not just about willpower,” Singh explains.

Substance abuse statistics in Delhi paint a bleak pic­ture. A study at two government schools surveyed 405 students from Classes 8, 9, and 11, revealing that 12.1 per cent had used cannabis in the past year, 8.6 per cent inhal­ants, and 4.9 per cent sedatives or tranquilisers. Opioids were also present, with 2.7 per cent using opium and 1.2 per cent reporting other opioid use. Disturbingly, two students admitted to heroin use—proof that the student drug culture is escalating.

Street children in metros like Delhi face an even graver situation, starting with tobacco and inhalants at the aver­age age of nine, cannabis and alcohol at 11, and heroin or opium by 12-13.

About a teenager she treated for drug addiction, Singh says, “Even after quitting weed, his unresolved emotional struggles led him towards another addiction: online gam­bling. This shift reflects a critical reality about addiction: it is rarely just about the substance or behaviour itself. Ad­dictions often stem from deep-rooted emotional voids, un­resolved trauma, psychological distress, or unmet needs. When individuals lack healthy coping mechanisms or emotional resilience, they may turn to external sources— whether drugs, gambling, excessive gaming, or even social media—as a way to numb difficult feelings, escape reality, or gain a fleeting sense of control and satisfaction.”

Addressing addiction therefore, Singh avers, is not just about stopping the behaviour—it requires understand­ing and healing the underlying emotional pain and psychological triggers. Building emotional resilience, promoting mental wellbeing, and fostering healthy connections are crucial steps towards long-term recovery, she adds. “Ultimately, addiction is less about substances and more about filling the emptiness left by unresolved feelings, unmet emotional needs, and the absence of a supportive, stable environment,” Singh explains.

The situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) is grim, notes Singh who has closely followed the situation. “It’s a mix of both progress and wors­ening trends. On the one hand, the drug problem in the region has escalated— access to substances has never been easier. Gone are the days when people had to rely on a ‘known guy’ to make a purchase. Today, with just a Telegram or Instagram account, drugs can be delivered straight to your doorstep. The rise of digital platforms has created a dangerous black market where anonymity makes enforcement harder, and this ease of access is truly alarming,” she says.

However, there are some positive developments, Singh adds. Increased awareness and open dialogue around addiction have reduced the stigma to some extent, encouraging more people—especially teenagers and young adults—to seek help before things spiral out of control. Singh is also glad that schools are incorporating educational programmes about drug misuse and parents are becoming more vigilant.

She is also delighted that the police and narcotics control agencies are cracking down on drug peddlers. But Singh offers a caveat: “Between 2020 and 2023, drug seizing in Delhi increased significantly, with higher confisca­tions of substances like cannabis, heroin, and synthetic drugs. Yet, despite these efforts, the fundamental challenge remains: as long as demand exists, there will always be supply.”

For his part, Jain emphasises that unlike tobacco, alcohol, or even heroin, treating ad­diction to mind-altering and synthetic drugs is challenging due to the lack of effective medica­tion. The growing accessibility of these sub­stances among younger demographics only exacerbates the crisis. While increasing drug busts provide some solace, the war on drugs is far from over—it has only just begun.

cannabiscocainedigital delieveriesDrugs menaceIndian youthInstagrammind-altering drugstelegram