Sanikommu Prabhakar Reddy, the owner of Hyderabad’s renowned Varalakshmi Tiffins eatery, was recently arrested for drug consumption and trafficking, raising concerns about the extent of this drug trade. Reddy, despite his successful business, turned to drug peddling, highlighting a deeper issue.
In a separate incident, two college students struggling with vaping (the practice of inhaling and exhaling vapor containing nicotine and flavoring produced by a device designed for this purpose) and e-cigarette addiction sourced drugs from alumni in Maharashtra and West Bengal, selling them in Hyderabad.
A Think Change Forum (TCF) study noted a concerning trend of drug suppliers using innovative methods like vaping to target teenagers.
The students, associated with IBS College and Amity Business School, sold e-cigarettes to peers in various institutions. This illegal activity involved 71 consumers across different colleges. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019 prohibits all aspects of e-cigarette production and distribution.
The TCF study suggests educational measures to combat drug abuse among students. Experts are emphasizing the role of media in depicting vaping as a coping mechanism and the need for parents to set clear boundaries for adolescents.
During counseling, the addicted students initially blamed neglectful parents and peer pressure for their addiction, highlighting the importance of proactive parenting and peer education.
