Party Drugs:

There are various ways of entertainment in parties for youngsters such as party games, music, dance etc. As the time passes the way of entertainment and the methods used for entertainment also changes from music, games, dance, to party drugs. At present scenario party drugs are very much used in rave parties. Drugs like heroin, cocaine OPM, LSD are common in parties. The charm of dance, music is no longer in parties today without these party drugs, every day a new drug is added in the list. These parties are much known in metros where as it is also started growing in cities. In Discos, rave parties, you can easily get these stuffs. Youngsters are spending a lot of money for these drugs thus the supply of these drugs are increasing day by day in the market and thus giving rise to the world of smuggling and drug trafficking. The drug dealers are making huge amount from this and in spite of knowing that it is a crime, dealers are ready to take the risk as it has lot of money and may be  less chances of getting caught or maybe the penalty given for the crime is less as compared to the huge amount which they make. 

The supply of these drugs rises during any occasions such as Diwali, holi, New Year, Valentine’s Day etc. It has been found that during occasions the movement gets active and in spite of various securities in the city it is easily supplied in the city without any restriction, but the smugglers are not always lucky. There have been various times that they have been caught but it is common that the big fish had always escaped from the situation and are still running their so called business and filling their pockets while destroying the future of the country. 

The Narcotics department has told that beside the regular drugs like heroin, cocaine and LSD the new drugs like K-72 and K-76 is also gaining popularity and smuggling of Cobra and Snake venom is increasing day by day in rave parties and discos in Delhi and NCR regions. Delhi police has seized Cobra venom before Valentine’s Day. The NGO for animals has also carried out raid several times on state transport and private busses plying to Delhi, rescuing various poisonous snakes and Cobra venom each time. Delhi Police said “we have not found any trend existing where youngsters are hooked on to the drugs made out of highly venomous cobra," this was not popular In Delhi until before but at present it is getting its popularity among youths. He added that half-a-litre of venom costs millions of rupees in the international market. To extract that amount, traffickers would have killed as many as 100 cobras. Drugs like K-72 and K-76 is much popular in Mumbai and it is consumed by youngsters along with party pills in drinks. As per NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) data, since January 2009, a total of 108 Nigerians have been arrested in Delhi on charges of drug trafficking. Surinder Kumar Sharma, counsellor in the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), who has battled drug addiction himself, said: "The usage of party drugs among the student community is less known. Usually, upper class adolescents take party drugs. Mostly, girls think taking party drugs is cool, naughty and fashionable." The party drugs come at a price of Rs. 2,000-5,000 per pill, a pinch of K-72 and K-76 costs Rs. 20,000-25,000. Due to their dwindling numbers, cobras, which were on Schedule IV in 2006, are now placed on Schedule I of the act, thus at very high protection, but they are still being widely traded. 

These drugs enhance sensation and boost energy so that revellers can dance for longer hours in the mean time it also harms the body. K-76 monocarboxylic acid (K-76 COOH) causes rapid reduction in hemolytic activities of complement and some of its components, especially C5, when injected into guinea pigs or rats. K-76 COOH suppressed Forssman shock in guinea pigs and mice and heterologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in guinea pigs. It also reduced the amount of protein excreted in the urine of rats with nephrotoxic nephritis and greatly prolonged the survival of (NZB X NZW) F1 female mice with a spontaneous systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease. The glomeruli of mice treated with K-76 COOH retained almost the normal histological appearance even at 1 year of age. K-76 COOH-treated mice became less sensitive to the infection of Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus, or Streptococcus pneumoniae, probably by enhancement of phagocytosis due to inhibition of factor I. K-76 COOH did not have any significant effect on a delayed-type contact skin reaction in mice, or on experimental allergic encephalitis in guinea pigs. Thus all these symptoms can also be seen in human beings resulting to death.

The other drug which is gaining its popularity among the youngsters is Yaba meaning the madness drug or Nazi Speed in Thai, is produced in Southeast and East Asia. The drug is popular in Asian communities in the United States and increasingly is available at raves and techno parties. Yaba is a combination of methamphetamine (a powerful and addictive stimulant) and caffeine. In India also it has started gaining popularity especially among the middle class and upper class due to its low price as low as Rs.80 for a single tablet. Yaba tablets typically are consumed orally. The tablets sometimes are flavored like candy (grape, orange, or vanilla). Another common method is called chasing the dragon. Users place the yaba tablet on aluminum foil and heat it from below. As the tablet melts, vapors rise and are inhaled. The drug also may be administered by crushing the tablets into powder, which is then snorted or mixed with a solvent and injected.  

Yaba has the same effect as other forms of methamphetamine it increases the heart rate, increases blood pressure, damage small blood vessels in the brain that can lead to stroke. Chronic use of the drug can result in inflammation of the heart lining. Overdoses can cause hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), convulsions, and death. Individuals who use Yaba also may have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. Although most users administer Yaba orally, those who inject the drug expose themselves to additional risks, including contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne viruses. The Yaba causes much damage as compared to other party drugs. According to Dr Yusuf Merchant, the head of Drug Abuse Information Rehabilitation and Research Centre (DAIRRC), says that Yaba is much more dangerous than other drugs as the continuous use of cocaine can cause 10% damage in 5 years, Yaba causes 90% damage in the same period.

Slowly but steadily the silent killer is creeping into India from East and Southeast Asia. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam top the list of Yaba producing countries. From there, the madness drug travels to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Forming the so-called Golden Triangle, it enters India from the eastern border Kolkata being one of the hot entry points. Yaba is spreading its tentacles in major cities across India. Even more worrying is the fact that the drug is being targeted at a relatively young age-group including the school kids. Dr Merchant feels that youngsters can be targeted easily as Yaba makes them feel energetic, aphrodisiac and one can even go without sleep, thus helping in studies initially. Moreover, Yaba doesn't need to be smoked or injected but just swallowing a pill.