The Deadly Pyramid Scheme of Synthetic Heroin in India’s Mountains | Trouble in Paradise
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the contrasting realities of Himachal Pradesh, India, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and adventure sports, yet grappling with a severe opioid crisis. Amid breathtaking landscapes and popular tourist activities like paragliding, the region faces a growing epidemic of synthetic heroin addiction. The narrative follows personal stories of struggle, loss, and attempts at rehabilitation, highlighting the severe impact of the drug on local communities. Efforts by local NGOs and police to combat the crisis are documented, illustrating the challenges of addressing this complex issue amidst the picturesque setting of Himachal Pradesh.
Takeaways
- 🏔️ Himachal Pradesh, known as the Switzerland of India, is famous for its snowy peaks and adventure sports, attracting millions of tourists annually before the pandemic.
- 🏠 The narrator moved back to a village in Himachal Pradesh during the lockdown to be with family, highlighting the shift in lifestyle and family bonding.
- 🪂 Bir Billing in Himachal is one of the highest takeoff points for paragliding, offering breathtaking views but also hiding a dark reality of opioid addiction.
- 💉 The state is experiencing a growing opioid crisis, particularly with synthetic opioids like Chitta, a form of heroin, which has led to numerous overdose deaths.
- 📊 Himachal Pradesh has a per capita opioid use more than double the national average, contributing to India's high illegal opioid consumption rate, which is three times the global average.
- 🚓 Many areas in Himachal, particularly those bordering Punjab, have become notorious for drug trafficking, with police efforts ongoing to curb this issue.
- 🌿 While Himachal has a cannabis-friendly reputation, the rise of synthetic heroin is a more dangerous development, affecting both locals and tourists.
- 🚑 The opioid crisis is further complicated by a lack of mental health support and rehabilitation facilities, with the state having only five government rehabs.
- 👮 Police have seized significant assets related to drug trafficking, but the lucrative nature of the heroin trade continues to attract participants.
- 🧠 Opioid addiction severely impacts brain chemistry and mental health, with experts emphasizing the need for treatment approaches that address these aspects.
Q & A
What is Himachal Pradesh often referred to as and why?
-Himachal Pradesh is often referred to as the 'Switzerland of India' due to its spectacular snowy peaks and thrilling adventure sports.
What significant impact did the COVID-19 pandemic have on Himachal Pradesh?
-Before the pandemic, Himachal Pradesh saw 17 million tourists annually. The lockdown led to a significant reduction in tourism.
What personal activity does the narrator's family partake in for bonding?
-The narrator's family bonds through near-death activities such as paragliding.
What is a growing problem in Himachal Pradesh despite its natural beauty?
-A growing opioid crisis is a significant problem in Himachal Pradesh despite its natural beauty.
What is 'chitta' and why is it concerning?
-Chitta is a form of synthetic heroin. It is concerning because it has significant effects on the body, including pain relief, euphoria, slow breathing, and potentially fatal overdoses.
How does the opioid consumption in Himachal Pradesh compare to the national average?
-Himachal Pradesh has more than double the national average of opioid use.
What personal loss did the narrator experience due to the opioid crisis?
-The narrator lost a close family member to an overdose death.
What role does Vijay Kumar play in addressing the opioid crisis in Himachal Pradesh?
-Vijay Kumar runs an NGO called Gunjan and has been tracking the history of synthetic heroin in North India for the past decade.
What makes Himachal Pradesh attractive to tourists besides its natural beauty?
-Himachal Pradesh is also known for its high-quality cannabis cultivation and products, attracting both national and international tourists.
What is the main challenge faced by the police in combating the drug problem in Himachal Pradesh?
-The main challenge is the high consumption of heroin, which has led to a steady rise in the number of drug retailers.
Why are opioids so addictive according to Dr. Anita Thakur?
-Opioids are addictive because they hijack the brain's reward system, making the user need opioids to enjoy life's pleasures.
What is the state of rehabilitation facilities in Himachal Pradesh?
-Himachal Pradesh has only five government rehabs, and less than three percent of addicts ever make it to rehabilitation.
What broader issue does the opioid crisis in Himachal Pradesh reflect?
-The opioid crisis in Himachal Pradesh reflects a complex issue compounded by shame and stigma, despite efforts by the government and individuals to address it.
Outlines
🏔️ Spectacular Himachal and its Hidden Crisis
Himachal Pradesh, known as the 'Switzerland of India' for its stunning snowy peaks and adventure sports, attracts millions of tourists annually. During the lockdown, the author returned to their hometown in the region, a place famous for paragliding. However, beneath its natural beauty lies a severe opioid crisis, marked by a high prevalence of synthetic heroin (chitta). The author explores the issue, meeting locals affected by addiction and discussing the significant impact on the community.
🌲 The History and Impact of Synthetic Heroin in Himachal
The author meets Vijay Kumar, who runs an NGO and has been studying synthetic heroin in North India for a decade. The discussion highlights the route of opioids from Pakistan and Afghanistan through Punjab into Himachal. Despite Himachal's reputation as a family vacation spot, it also attracts tourists seeking cannabis. The Dalai Lama's residence brings many seeking Tibetan culture, but the nearby Dharamshala jail has a high number of drug-related incarcerations. Efforts to curb the crisis include police crackdowns on retailers of chitta.
🚔 Policing the Drug Epidemic in Himachal
In an effort to understand the enforcement side, the author meets a police officer working to dismantle the heroin supply chain in Himachal. The discussion reveals the high profitability of heroin trade and the challenges in combating it. The police have seized significant assets from drug trades. A former peddler shares his traumatic experience and reasons for leaving the business, emphasizing the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking in the region.
🧠 The Mental Health Crisis Linked to Opioid Addiction
Dr. Anita Thakur, a psychiatrist, explains the severe mental health issues associated with opioid addiction, noting the rise in diseases like hepatitis C and HIV from shared needles. She describes how opioids hijack the brain's reward system, making them highly addictive. The story of Gaurav, who underwent nine bouts of rehab to quit, highlights the scarcity of rehabilitation centers in Himachal. Despite the state's postcard-perfect image, the opioid crisis remains a complex issue shrouded in shame and stigma.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Himachal Pradesh
💡Opioid Crisis
💡Chitta
💡Tourism
💡Paragliding
💡Synthetic Heroin
💡Addiction
💡Rehabilitation
💡Mental Health
💡Economic Impact
💡Cannabis
💡Police Efforts
💡Punjab
💡Harm Reduction
💡Overdose Deaths
Highlights
Himachal Pradesh, known for its spectacular snowy peaks and adventure sports, attracts 17 million tourists annually.
The narrator moved back to a village in Himachal Pradesh during the lockdown to be with family.
Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh is one of the highest takeoff points for paragliding in the world.
Despite its natural beauty, Himachal Pradesh faces a growing opioid crisis.
A local pine forest in South Himachal is known as a go-to place for substance users due to its seclusion.
Reports of overdose deaths from opioids like chitta, a form of heroin, are common in local newspapers.
India has thrice the global average consumption of illegal opioids, with Himachal Pradesh having more than double the national average per person.
The narrator lost a close family member to an opioid overdose and struggled to find adequate mental health support and rehabilitation.
Himachal Pradesh has a low per capita income, making the high cost of synthetic heroin a paradox in its widespread use.
Vijay Kumar, who runs an NGO called Gunjan, has been tracking the history of synthetic heroin in North India for the past decade.
Punjab serves as the corridor for opioids entering North India from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Himachal Pradesh is a popular destination for cannabis-related tourism, attracting national and international visitors.
The Dharamshala jail, near the residence of the Dalai Lama, has three-fourths of its inmates imprisoned for drug-related offenses.
The state police have intensified efforts to curb the supply chain of chitta in Himachal Pradesh.
Many households in the border regions of Himachal Pradesh are involved in the heroin trade due to its high profitability.
Seized assets from drug trades in these regions are valued at over 1.6 million dollars.
Most peddlers and users caught in the heroin trade find it difficult to escape due to its deep impact on brain chemistry.
Dr. Anita Thakur, a psychiatrist, emphasizes that substance abuse is a mental health issue and should be treated as such.
Diseases like hepatitis C and HIV are increasingly spreading through shared injections rather than sexual transmission.
Less than three percent of addicts in Himachal Pradesh make it to rehabilitation centers.
The state of Himachal Pradesh has only five government rehabilitation centers.
Gaurav, a former addict, successfully quit after nine rehabilitation attempts and now works in one of the state’s rehab centers.
The opioid crisis in Himachal Pradesh, particularly due to synthetic heroin, remains a complex and growing issue despite governmental and individual efforts.
Transcripts
spectacular snowy peaks and thrilling
adventure sports
himachal is a place many call the
switzerland of india
and before the pandemic hit this state
in north india saw 17 million tourists
annually
[Music]
in the midst of a lockdown i left the
city and moved back to a village here to
be with my family
[Music]
this is my cousin
this is how my family bonds
we do near death activities
my hometown b billing is one of the
highest takeoff points for paragliding
in the world
from up here it's really a bird's eye
view
but beyond this natural beauty lurks a
dark truth
that of a growing opioid crisis
[Music]
i'm in this pine forest in south
himachal and this is one of the areas
which is known by the local substance
users as go-to place it's pretty it's
secluded
and sort of hidden away from the rest of
the city that's why i'm meeting god over
here
hello
korov has had his struggles with heroin
addiction and
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
[Music]
kids
[Music]
[Music]
reports of similar overdose deaths are
very common in local newspapers
while himachal has always had a cannabis
positive attitude
synthetic opioids like chitta which is a
form of heroin are a different beast
altogether
just like the other drugs coming from
the opium poppy plant synthetic heroin
can have significant effects on the body
ranging from pain relief and euphoria to
slow breathing or overuse related death
i recently learned that india has thrice
the global average when it comes to the
consumption of illegal opioids
and the per person used in himachal
shockingly is more than double the
national average
while some overdose deaths come to light
several go unreported
the crisis has also affected me
personally i recently lost a close
family member i grew up with to an
overdose death
we knew about him for two years actually
but despite
knowing talking to him
we couldn't get him the kind of mental
health support that he needed or
rehabilitation that he needed
problem
[Music]
[Music]
exclusive
most of himachal depends on farming for
a living and our per capita income is
pretty low about 235 dollars per month
to know how a drug costing hundred
dollars per gram has become so rampant
here i'm meeting vijay kumar who runs an
ngo called gunjan
he's been tracking the history of
synthetic heroin in north india for the
past decade
opioids
foreign
a state where opioid uses five times the
national average for over a decade
punjab has been the corridor for opioids
to enter north india from neighboring
pakistan and afghanistan
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
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while himachal is a hot spot for family
vacations other tourists have been known
to enjoy more than just the famous
dumplings here
long famous for its vast and high
quality bead cultivation
many national and international tourists
come to himachal for cannabis related
products
i grew up in here but like uh
1991 some i think there's a lot of no
indian tourists coming the western
mostly of westerns and israelis and
other people wore people coming out of
north india so that times like
lots of things is going on i think so
yeah yeah because they're from coming to
go out we're here doing
like season times you know like summer
time in the summer times the himachal
coming
[Music]
the spiritual leader dalai lama lives in
these mountains so people come here
seeking a slice of tibetan culture
and the tranquility that comes with
rural mountain life
[Music]
but close to where the dalai lama lives
is the dharamshala jail
where three-fourths of the people have
been imprisoned in drug-related acts
[Music]
since 2020 the state police
foreign
because of the high consumption of
chitta in this area there's been a
steady rise of retailers of the drug
i'm meeting ashok ratan one of the
police officers who's been trying to cut
off the supply chain
in himachal pradesh live apart from
police i think the whole administration
or the
our cabinet are ministers also he's like
the biggest problem in much buddhist
right now is drug abuse
and in that also the major portion in
the last two three years has been
dominated by the consumption of heroin
which area are we going to actually this
is just near near to the pathan court
around 100 metres from here it's
pathanko
punjab had become the center of india's
epidemic of opioid users
but the villages in himachal that border
punjab are the ones that are most
notorious for
majority
[Music]
i think uh in shortest possible time to
make such amount of money everyone is in
dutch every main household is indulgent
[Music]
three and four foreign building
this house is actually of a local heroin
kingpin who has now been arrested
i met up with his wife to ask her how
his arrest has affected life in chennai
[Applause]
[Music]
[Music]
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but if i'm a drug peddler or even a
supplier for that matter
is it more profitable for me to actually
do heroin business
in my person according to my experience
here
because uh 250 grams of urine if you say
there is a hypothetical situation that
you are caught with a 250 grams of
heroin
or with 1 kg of cholesterol the
profitability margin is 10 times more in
250 grams of urine because it's more
expensive and it's quite easy
for you to hide the drugs when the
police party rates you
the cops in these border regions have
recently seized assets worth more than
1.6 million dollars from drug trades and
they're
gg
[Music]
foreign
your aim is to remove drugs
after a few run-ins with the cop this
former chitta peddler has now left the
business
although it was lucrative this trade
turned out to be quite traumatic
[Music]
or
foreign
foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
most peddlers and users caught in the
web of heroin are never able to get out
of it because of how deeply their drug
affects our brain chemistry
dr anita thakur is a psychiatrist who
believes that substance abuse is a
mental health issue and must be handled
as one
she can tell that the drug use is
drastically high because diseases like
hepatitis c and hiv are now spreading
more from shared injections rather than
the usual mode of sexual transmission
why are opioids so addictive we enjoy
certain things you know there are
certain pleasures in life like good food
picnic with friends good sex so you know
there are n number of pleasures that
people enjoy now the problem is that it
all works on the reward center so
opioids
actually hijacks your reward system and
whatever you want to enjoy in life you
need to have opioid to enjoy that
[Music]
it took god of nine bouts of rehab to
finally quit he's still one of the lucky
ones who got to go to a rehab less than
three percent of addicts ever really
make it to one
oh ab
anybody
bad
the entire state of himachal has only
five government rehabs and gaurav works
in one of them
foreign
[Music]
while himachal looks postcard perfect
with tourists the disturbing opioid
crisis especially that of the synthetic
heroin chita is a very complex matter
it continues to be shouted in shame and
stigma
and even as the government is trying to
do their bit and some individuals are
working to bring changes on a personal
level
the crisis in the state
is still compounding
[Music]
you
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