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ShareMumbai: Places where youngsters frequent are the favourite hunting ground for drug peddlers. A senior police officer from the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai police said, "College-going youth in their early twenties are among the biggest consumers of drugs.
Peddlers have a unique way of identifying or hooking a youngster. It starts with either adventurism or peer pressure and then goes on to addiction. Peddlers make the narcotics easily available to such youngsters who then spread it among their group."
In almost all cases, peddlers never come to the forefront; they always supply and distribute the drugs through a network, which is difficult to track. Networking by word of mouth and keeping a closely-knit group, ensures the identity of the peddler is never revealed. "Even the consumer is aware that it's illegal to consume drugs, therefore he ensures that the word does not spread. This eventually helps peddlers," the officer added.
Pubs, discotheques and high profile parties are other places which are the favourite hunting grounds for peddlers. "It is considered fashionable to consume drugs in such places," the officer said.
The police are finding it increasingly difficult to curb the menace among youngsters because of the highly secretive modus operandi by peddlers as well as those who consume them. "It will have to be an all round effort to curb the menace of drug usage among youngsters," the officer said.
While the police will have to tighten the noose around the peddlers and keep close watch on how drug distribution and consumption network, the officer said, "Even parents and colleges will have to do their bit. Parents should keep a watch and spot any change in habits of their children."
