Drug addiction in Punjab is a major concern, reasons being obvious. The fear of a wasted generations, who can live with this thought.
The psychiatry department at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh, have discovered an unusual addiction among the youth in Dhanas village, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, during their research. The people here are openly using oxytocin shots, popularly called ‘buffalo injections’ for a high.
Dr B S Chavan, the lead researcher of the study, recently got the study published in Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry- ‘Overcoming barriers to community participation in drug dependence treatment: An ethnography approach’.
“The villagers told me about a person who used ‘buffalo syringes’ for a high. We’d never heard of it. The drug abuser proudly claimed that he had started this and had taught his peers to use oxytocin,” Dr Chavan said.
The cost of an ampule of oxytocin is about Rs 50 and it is easily available too.
About the Oxytocin:
- Oxytocin is also known as ‘love hormone’ because it induces happiness and relaxation which help people to bond socially.
- Oxytocin is used to help induce labour in women and is a prescription drug.
- Though it has been banned for veterinary use as the hormone enables faster milk production, but can harm cattle. Though illegal, its use in the dairy industry is rampant. The formulation is the same for humans and animals, and the vials can be misused, say experts.
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