HYDERABAD: In an alarming trend, several drug addicts in the city have turned to chemicals like the liquid form of Nitravet, a type of sedative, after failing to get the desired ‘drug effect’ from its tablets.
According to police, drug addicts crush Nitravet tablets and mix them with other drugs to make a liquid concoction for use as an injectable drug. Nitravet, commonly prescribed to patients for sedative effects, can have serious side effects when abused.
This came to light when the Banjara Hills police arrested five people from a flat in city. Acting on a tip-off, the police reached the flat and found five people, including three women, in a drowsy state, allegedly due to drug use. According to the police, the accused had illegally obtained prescription drugs from a supplier.
“They crush the psychotropic tablets and mix them with water before injecting the solution with an insulin syringe,” sources said.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted to being addicted to Nitravet. Initially, they took the drug orally, but as they developed a tolerance, they began experimenting with other methods to achieve a high.
They mixed powdered Tydol, Tramadol and Nitravet, then dissolved the mixture in water to inject it directly into their bodies.
The five arrested accused are all from Mizoram and had been living in Hyderabad for their livelihood.
According to the police, their drug abuse started under the influence of a person from Mizoram living in Hyderabad. After this person left the city, the group linked up with a local delivery boy who continued to supply them with the drug without a doctor’s prescription.
The suspects, who are either beauticians or masseurs, have been abusing the drugs for the past six months.
The police are now looking for three drug peddlers who supplied the psychotropic tablets – two of whom are also from Mizoram and are currently on the run.
The five people arrested have been charged under the NDPS Act.
