Getting lost in the labyrinth of drug addiction in Hyderabad Premium
The Hindu
In 2022, 932 consumers were booked in 86 narcotics cases in Hyderabad alone, with Telangana having over 29 lakh drug users. Despite police efforts, Hyderabad is an emerging transit hub for narcotics, with 1,176 cases registered under the NDPS Act in 2022.
On a humid Thursday evening in August of 2021, a chance encounter in Goa’s buzzing Mapusa town set off a chain of events that led Shekhar (name changed to protect identity), 27, into getting lost in the labyrinth of drug addiction. The popular tourist destination unwittingly drew the multinational company employee from Hyderabad into its casual drug scene, and he eventually got hooked to ganja and LSD. Soon, he started peddling drugs among his friends in Hyderabad.
In February 2023, Cyberabad police caught Shekhar peddling contraband at KPHB Colony, a tiny locality in Hyderabad. As a practice, the police provided counselling and advised his family to send him to rehabilitation.
Shekhar is just one of the thousands of drug users/peddlers caught by the police in Hyderabad. Hyderabad’s Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) alone booked 932 consumers in 86 cases in 2022 while seizing ₹2.3 crore worth of drugs.
Opinion | Hyderabad’s drug trafficking problem
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment’s report revealed that Telangana, with a population of 3.5 crore, has over 29 lakh drug users. Of these, 1.90 lakh adults are regular cannabis users, 5.47 lakh consume opioid drugs like heroin and codeine, and 16.63 lakh resorted to sedatives. While Telangana tops the list of Southern States, it is followed by Andhra Pradesh with over 17 lakh drug users, the report stated.
De-addiction therapist Dr. V.S. Gideon from the city says there has been a significant rise in the number of youngsters seeking drug rehabilitation in recent years. “Earlier, it used to be alcohol addiction, but over the last few years, we started getting calls seeking help for children as young as 12 and 13 years,” he says.
Every week, the tri-city police Commissionerates of Hyderabad, Cyberbad, and Rachakonda announce one drug bust or the other, painting a worrisome picture of Telangana as an emerging transit hub for narcotics. Herbal contraband like marijuana and cannabis oil enters from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. At the same time, synthetic drugs like cocaine, heroin, MDMA, LSD, and ecstasy are trafficked from Karnataka and Goa, and drug runners from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh funnel poppy and opium.
Telangana Legislature's winter session on December 9, 2024 to focus on new legislation, rectifying past Acts, and addressing social indicators and financial issues.
Central government officials raise concerns over vague replies on vacancies and recruitments in Central ministries, highlighting data discrepancies.
Supreme Court directs five states to provide facts on illegal sand mining activities, emphasizing the need for control.
Vazhndhu Kattuvom scheme in Tiruchi district empowers women entrepreneurs through vocational training and e-commerce platforms for business growth.
Chennai airport passengers face challenges with defective trolley wheels, but improvements are underway by AAI officials.
J&K leaders oppose new railway lines cutting through agriculture and horticulture land in south Kashmir, citing ecological and livelihood concerns.
Preliminary study at IIT Madras' Vana Vani School raises concerns over unauthorized clinical trials on students.
Shortage of clinical psychologists in India due to discontinuation of MPhil program raises concerns about education and accreditation standards.
Producers of Tamil movie Amaran apologize for displaying student's number, leading to legal action and removal of scene.
Telangana Chief Minister initiates recruitment of transgender Traffic Assistants in Hyderabad Police for inclusivity and representation.
Forest Minister K. Ponmudy launches 60 mobile medical units for Cyclone Fengal relief in Villupuram district.