Hyderabad: The case of Lingampally Anuradha, a working professional turned drug peddler, is not an isolated case of professionals and those working in reputed firms, resorting to drug peddling. In the past, a few professionals were caught by agencies, while several others who are into consumption and also into peddling drugs are becoming a worrying trend in the city. Quick and easy money and access to easy and more variety of drugs and becoming a part of similar groups for socialisation, is taking them to choose this path.
Despite their well paid jobs, professionals who start off as consumers are ending up in a financial crisis. To come out of this, they are turning to supplying drugs. TS Narcotics Bureau (TNAB) also has laid focus on this trend and have started reaching out to corporates to create awareness.
(TNAB) Director C.V. Anand said that this was a disturbing trend, as more professionals are into consumption and shifting to peddling and are making this habit to spend their weekends. This trend is also seen among students. “The addiction has become so severe that even to do their daily routine, they need drugs. As a result, they are spending more on buying and after running out of their savings, they start peddling drugs in their circles,” he said.
He added that TNAB has already started reaching out to educational institutions and simultaneously corporate also, educating them about the ill effects of drug effects and also the legal consequences. “We are planning to set up Anti Drug Committees even in corporates and similar setups also,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
It was also found that TNAB has already found some information indicating the role of professionals and corporate employees who are into drug peddling and consumption and they are in the process of gathering proper evidence to initiate action against them.
Nissi Rufus G., a clinical psychologist says that initially professionals start drugs for recreation or as a stress buster and then get addicted. Financial and psychological factors play in, turning them into peddlers. “The main motivating factor for them to turn into peddlers is that it is a quick and easy money making way and as those addicted are in need of more money to buy their supplies, they start peddling,” she opined. Majority of those into addiction and peddling are in the age group of 20-35 and are both students and professionals, Nissi observed.
Signs to watch out in early users:
1. Frequent travel to Goa and Bengaluru
2. Listening to trance and psychedelic music
3. Having tattoos or piercings in an unusual way
4. Isolating self and not socialising with common people
5. Abnormal weight loss and becoming very lean
6. Chronic active nightlife
7. Receiving parcels from unknown sources frequently
