■ 14,000 youth caught in Telangana for drug offenses since 2022

■ 2024 records highest number of youth held in drug cases

EKALAVYA MALLEPALLI | Hyderabad

Drug abuse among young people in Telangana is reaching alarming levels, with fresh data revealing that nearly 14,000 individuals below the age of 40 have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between June 2022 and July 2025. The numbers peaked in 2024, when 5,965 youth were caught in drug-related cases, making it the worst year in recent times. Of the total accused across three years, 13,684 are men while 316 are women.

The year-wise data shows a sharp escalation in the number of youth falling into the trap of drugs. In 2022, from June onwards, 1,062 cases were registered. The following year witnessed a dramatic rise with 3,609 young offenders booked. The numbers touched a record high in 2024 with 5,965 cases, while in 2025, up to July alone, authorities have already registered 3,364 cases. Officials have warned that if the current trend continues, the tally for this year could cross the 2023 figures.

Anti-narcotics officials say the surge in drug cases is not limited to urban centers like Hyderabad but is now spreading to smaller towns and even villages. Youth for Anti-Corruption (YAC) founder Rajender Palnati expressed deep concern over the growing availability of ganja and synthetic drugs, particularly among students. He pointed out disturbing instances of ganja-laced chocolates being sold near corporate schools in Hyderabad and other district headquarters, warning that such practices are endangering the lives of teenagers and young adults.

Speaking to Metro India, Rajender said that awareness campaigns must begin at the school level if the problem is to be contained. He urged the government and the education department to treat the issue with urgency and roll out programs that sensitize children, parents, and teachers about the dangers of drug abuse. Failure to act decisively, he warned, could put the future of an entire generation at risk. The unchecked spread of narcotics, he added, has the potential to fuel a rise in various crimes and destabilize the social fabric.

Calling for stricter enforcement, Rajender demanded that both drug peddlers and consumers face harsher punishments. He argued that only tough action combined with preventive education could safeguard the state’s youth from addiction. “If we fail to protect today’s students from the lure of drugs, we will be jeopardizing the future of tomorrow’s citizens,” he cautioned.