Drug abuse among women on the rise in Hyderabad

Drug abuse among women, including techies, medicos and students, is rising in Hyderabad. Police said nearly 100 women were found using narcotics, with some even peddling. Officials urged parents to stay vigilant and provide emotional support and counselling

Hyderabad: A growing trend of women and young girls, particularly those who are highly educated, including techies and medicos, falling into the grip of drugs is raising serious concern.

The EAGLE team of Hyderabad Police recently caught three girl students consuming marijuana at a private medical college in the city, exposing the spread of narcotics among female students and inside medical campuses.

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Drug racket busts and investigations over the past few months revealed that nearly 100 women were involved as consumers of marijuana and synthetic drugs. Shockingly, at least five of them had also taken to drug peddling and transporting the contraband to other consumers across the city.

According to police officials, racketeers were also found to be targeting unemployed youth and job seekers through social media platforms, luring them with offers of high commissions and quick money.

Recent counselling sessions with drug abusers found that some of the causes for addiction included domestic disputes and family stress, marital breakdowns, relationship failures and peer pressure at social gatherings. An IT professional recently confessed that her addiction began after a divorce when a colleague introduced her to narcotics by sharing an LSD blot to cope with depression.

Officials said phone records of arrested peddlers frequently showed the contacts of young women, some of them employed in respectable positions.

“The trend of well-educated and working women getting trapped in drug abuse is worrisome. Drugs ruin both health and future. Parents must notice behavioural changes in their children and offer emotional support,” said a senior official from the EAGLE team, adding that with proper counselling and rehabilitation, addicts can return to normal life.