Mumbai biggest cocaine market as synthetic drugs use rises in India

Deeptiman Tiwary TNN 

New Delhi: India is increasingly consuming more synthetic drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methaphetamine and mandrax than natural psychotropic substances such as cannabis andhashish. 
    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 andconsumption of synthetic drugs, which are more addictive and injurious to health than natural ones, has been constantly rising whilethatof naturaloneshasbeen decreasing. 
    It has also been found that Punjab and Maharashtra, in particular Mumbai, lead the pack in smuggling and consumption of syntheticdrugs. 
    Analysis of data 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 naturalextractssaw an increaseof around100%.However,opium islargely usedto manufacture heroin by treating it with acetic anhydride, a chemical that India manufactures in large quantities. “This is a very disturbing trend as synthetic drugs arefar moreharmful,” a senior NCBofficialsaid. 
    Mumbai 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 rampantin Bollywood andthe glamour industry,” an NCBofficer from Mumbaisaid.

Source:::: The Times of India, 25-11-2013, p.12, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/11/25&PageLabel=12&EntityId=Ar01207&ViewMode=HTML