Huge MD Bust Triggers City Fears for Youngsters
Is the party drug now a fad in cities like Bhopal?
Bhopal
The drug bust on the outskirts of the state capital on Sunday yielded Mephedrone (MD) worth a whopping Rs 1,814 crore on the streets. The massive haul triggers fears that some of the drug may have ended up being used locally.
Though investigations are still in their preliminary stages, it may be too early to draw conclusions; however, the possibility of the substance being available in the city cannot yet be ruled out.
Mephedrone, also known as drone, meow-meow, M-Cat, white magic, and bubble, is a party drug that stimulates an elevated mood and euphoria but causes bruxism—extreme grinding of teeth—as an immediately visible side effect.
A cursory search on the internet indicates that bruxism is usually accompanied by situational anxiety.
Party regulars in the city talk about the availability of stimulants but stop short of giving details about the kinds of drugs that youngsters may be using.
The party scene in the city has grown exponentially since young professionals, with substantial disposable income, returned to the area during the COVID lockdowns.
Partygoers say that regular parties are held at cafes and lounges that have sprung up to cater to the demand; however, the real deal is the parties where an invite is given only to a select few.
The police have, in the past, busted several such parties, counseled the youngsters and their parents, and warned them about the lifelong effects of drug use. Law enforcers say that hotspots are kept under strict surveillance.
Research suggests that drug dependence is classified between psychological and physiological reasons. While the former is caused by milder substances such as hashish and marijuana, the latter is deadlier and involves opiates and chemicals such as MD.
With the Gujarat ATS and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raids uncovering over 900 kg of the drug from a manufacturing facility on the outskirts of the city, one cannot help but wonder if any of the 25 kg per day capacity of the operation was consumed locally.
