Stay away from party drugs

It is Saturday night, Renuka Modi, a fashion writer in a Roberto Cavali dress, pops a small, blue pill into her mouth and dances to the thumping beat. Later she heads to a house party with her friends where they snort cocaine off tabletops. India's generation next believes in partying hard and working hard at the same time. Unfortunately, youngsters in the country are stepping up their party style by dabbling in party drugs.

According to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), more than 35 per cent parties in the cities have been using party drugs. Youngsters are procuring party drugs rampantly from clandestine dealers and the Internet. "The misuse of the Internet for advertising, selling and promoting drugs and to supply information on illicit drugs is a global problem, but it has taken alarming proportion in India," says KC Verma, director, NCB.

 The hot drugs in the party circle are Cocaine and Roofies.  Model turned choreographer Achala Sachdev says, "Yes you can see a lot of party drugs in the Mumbai's party circle. But that does not mean everybody who goes to party is high on cocaine and we cannot brand the whole fashion industry as drug addicts. But generally models take it because when they are on a high they tend to forget their hunger, their sorrows and probably do things which you probably would not do normally."

"Lot of people say I am just going to use it for one time and I just want to know how it is like, but end up using it again and again. But my point is why taking it even once? If you are not popping drugs you are not missing out of anything. It just starts off as a quest or adventure which turns into addiction," says etiquette queen, Chaaya Momaya. Party drugs cause temporary feelings of pleasure and empathy, increased energy and acute awareness of emotion. But these drugs may cause fatal cardiovascular, nervous system and respiratory problem.

Cocaine is one drug which is very rampantly used amongst party goers. It has become like a snack for many. Trying cocaine often gets hooked to the short-term cocaine effects, namely feeling as though they have increased energy. They are able to endure longer physical activity with out eating. "One major effect of cocaine is appetite suppression which is why it is so popular with models. I know models who take cocaine before every show because it gives them an instant high and kills their appetite completely," says model turned choreographer Marc Robinson.

The hunger to maintain well-toned bodies that people desire is gnawing. Today's norm is the 'heroine chic' look and many models and actors in the party circle who flaunt it are actually chasing the dragon. Like British super model Kate Moss who turned addict for a while. To maintain a svelte figure is all sweat. "They get dropped from shows for putting on little weight," says fashion designer and ex-model Lascylles Simmons.

One more nail in the coffin: designers want skinny models who are going to look good in western outfits. "Designers are targeting the international audience. The cut of the dresses is of international standard and the model they look for also should have an international appeal," says Shaina NC, a Mumbai- based designer. So an inch more around the waist may result in the modeling agency issuing an ultimatum to return to shape or lose the contract.

Roofies is another drug, which is used in other countries as a sedative and a treatment for insomnia. Roofies or Rohypnol is a colourless, tasteless and odourless, and dissolves easily in carbonated beverages. Once ingested, it can cause drowsiness, loss of muscle control, slurred speech and unconsciousness. Psychologist and sex therapist, Dr. Varkha Chulani says, "In this state, it is much easier to push unwanted sexual advances on the drugged person. After the drug has worn off, rohypnol often leaves people with little or no memory of what has happened to them while on the drug and has been used in sexual assaults."

Model Sucheta Sharma says, "It is shocking how party drugs have become common these days. One should remember that drugs are not hip or fashionable. They ruin lives and can be fatal. In order to have a good time one does not need to resort to party drugs." From brawls and accidents party drugs have fatal repercussions. The smart thing to do is to stay away from them. It is extremely uncool to be on drugs.

You may feel flirting with party drugs is just a one-off thing. But statistics show that many hard- core addicts started of as party drug users. "It gives a temporary high, but the adverse effects are so adverse that it is unimaginable. If it is peer pressure, understand that you don't have to feel pressurized to do anything in life at the cost of your health," says Dr. Chulani.

Party drugs are extremely harmful as it can cause fall in blood pressure, low brain oxygen levels, fall in potassium level, chronic abusers may develop nerve damage and formation of air bubbles in the lungs. So stay away from party drugs.