Udta Gujarat: State No 1 in amphetamine seizures

AHMEDABAD: Amphetamines - psychoactive drugs that stimulate the central nervous system - may not be heard of commonly. However, these 'party drugs' have Gujarat in their grip, with the youth especially flying high. This is apparent from figures released by the of Union home ministry, which shows that Gujarat has recorded the most seizures of amphetamines.

Of the 1,366.65kg of amphetamines seized in the country up to June this year, 1,364.2kg was seized in Gujarat alone - which accounts for 99.8% seizures. Other states like Maharashtra (1.98 kg) and Delhi (17g) were far behind 'Udta Gujarat'. The figures suggest that amphetamine began landing in Gujarat just this year.

Apart from amphetamine, Gujarat recorded seizure of 1,313.46kg of ganja, 26.39kg of hashish, 2.57kg of heroin and 178.88 kg of poppy straw, the Union home ministry's figures show.

According to experts, youths between 15 and 25, are falling prey to this 'party' or brain-stimulating drug.

"Though we have not been get large numbers of cases of amphetamine addiction, it seems we are at a transition point as Gujarat youths may be shifting from ganja and hashish to amphetamines, a brain stimulant and party drug," Dr Rajendra Anand, head of a rehabilitation centre in the city, said.

"We, on average, receive one case of amphetamine addiction every two or four months. The addicted youths come to us complaining of insomnia and wild or provocative behaviour. This drug stimulates your brain and gives you a very energetic feeling but it kills your appetite," added Anand. "Youths, college students and those between 15 and 25, take it at rave parties to stimulate their nervous system and they dance all night. In many cases, it stimulates their sexual desires and they even get into sexual encounters with unknown partners," he said.