How bad drugs really are?

Do you know what it feel like when your body seems to be a rolling ball? Ever found something more peaceful than meditation? If yes, that means you have felt a sense of euphoria, quite similar to what you feel after taking cannabis. Although consumption, selling and production of all kinds of drugs, whether synthetic or organic, may not be completely legal in India, still it has been a part of our country for thousands of years. Smoking weed has become something very common these days, especially among teenagers who try to escape their day to day stress or combat their mental health issues. You all might have noticed that more a thing makes us instantly happy, the more it becomes poisonous and ultimately, an addiction. We all partially know about drugs, it’s after effects, forms of consumption and origin. Since it is a huge matter to peep inside, knowing about it a bit more wouldn’t hurt.




According to the recent study of UNODC, over 7.2 million citizens of India have consumed several forms of cannabis such as weed, resin, flower, seeds, marijuana, hashish and more. It does not end here on just some forms of cannabis. Drugs are majorly categorized under 2 terms i.e. 'Synthetic Drugs' and 'Organic Drugs'. Although both the terms define themselves but for the sake of simplicity, we can denote 'Synthetic' with 'Chemicals' and ‘Organic’ with ‘Natural’. You might have seen or heard about synthetic drugs in clubs, rave parties etc. Not just pills & powder, addicts take injections of heroin and opium as well in veins to get the instant high. Stimulants are one such variety that consumption of it feels unusually relaxing to the user and affects the behavior of brain, directly manipulating the central nervous system of user's body. It would feel as if everything is speeding up every motion or happening; increase in blood pressure, fasten breathing rate, senses more alert than usual and rapid heartbeat. On the other hand Depressants works totally opposite of Stimulants by seeming to slow everything down. Often come in forms of pills and can also be taken by snorting or mixing in beverages. Examples of depressant include cocaine, caffeine synthetic marijuana, etc. Mostly prescribed by doctors to people suffering from anxiety, insomnia or OCD. It obviously feels amazing to take drugs, but harming are it’s after-effects, as it may lead the user to suffer from Depression, Anxiety attacks, Nose bleeding, Cardiac arrest, Brain damage, suicidal thoughts and the never ending list goes on.

Apart from synthetic drugs, there are organic ones of which the usage has taken a sharp upturn in India since 2000. Mostly we see people smoking hand-rolled weed stuffed cigarettes called 'Joint' and a few frequent users find other ways to consume cannabis like mixing it in edibles. We all must have tried an Indian-originated type of cannabis called 'Bhang' which is very well known and highly consumed. In 'Hinduism' cannabis is  considered as some sort of holy plant. Some of these drugs have now been legalized in some countries. For instance, Netherland has become friendly with the consumption and production of weed, hashish and hallucinogen mushrooms since 2008, Uruguay legalized plantation of Marijuana in 2013 and Australia has recently legalized limited plantation and consumption of Marijuana. Whereas in U.S., over 23 states have permission to grow, sell and consume cannabis. They use weed for medicinal purpose as well. Cannabis is somewhat legal in India, as there are a few states in India that produce drugs like 'Hemp' cultivation in Uttarakhand, 'Weed' in odisha, 'Opium' in rajasthan, 'Hashesh' in Himachal pradesh and more.

Scientists have proven that Synthetic cannabinoids are 30 times harmful than organic marijuana. In India, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985 has banned any production or sale of marijuana. However, a few politicians like MP of Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Union Minister, Ms. Maneka Gandhi, have raised the voice towards matter of Legalization of Marijuana in India, not partly but on nation-wide level. Scene of drug all over the world is a little chaotic, confusing. Drugs were created to cure diseases but the negative and greedy aspect of our society has made it a curse. Only proper knowledge and action can bring the drug abuse down.