West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the fourth most populated state in India. Because of the location, India experiences a large amount of drug trafficking through the borders. They are also the world’s largest producer of legal opium. India is also a trans-shipment point for heroin from Southwest Asian countries.

Drug addiction has been rising throughout India for a long time. Young people are abusing dangerous illicit drugs and substances at an earlier age and risk becoming addicted at a much younger age now. Most drug abusers in West Bengal and throughout India prefer to inject their drug of choice which has led to AIDS/HIV which is now an epidemic throughout India.

It is estimated that about 2.31 million people in India had HIV in 2007. It is the highest among of drug addicts and sex workers. In the early 70s sedatives and stimulants as well as many other addictive drugs were widely available throughout West Bengal and India. During the 80s and 90s heroin use became much more available and widespread and throughout the 90s, injecting drugs became very popular among drug abusers. Heroin and cannabis in the 90’s were the number one drugs of choice then.

Now today injecting drug use is widespread as well as unsafe sex among many people throughout India. This has led to the epidemic of AIDS and many other sexually transmitted diseases throughout the country. Common substances that are abused in West Bengal are as follows:

1. Tobacco products such as cigarettes and Gutka (chewed)
2. Cannabis and hashish
3. Alcohol
4. Barbiturates, Methaqualone (hypnotic sedative Quaalude) and Benzodiazepines, these are referred to as ludes or downers; these are abused in capsule or tablet form, mixed into alcohol or injected.
5. Heroin is also called smack or junk and is primarily injected but also snorted or smoked.
6. Codeine products are also abused and abuse is widespread.

Inhalants abuse is becoming more common, many start inhaling solutions as early as 10 years old. It has also been reported that many of these young children are introduced to this behavior by their peers.

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