Morung Express News
Kohima | February 5
The advisory issued by the Nagaland Police on February 2 which categorized the drugs ‘Yaba’ and ‘Sunflower’ as the same type of drug has left many perplexed.
The intent of the advisory was well appreciated; however, there appears to be some confusion between the classifications of drugs, even by the police who are making all efforts to control the supply of drugs in the state.
As reported earlier by The Morung Express in 2019, Yaba is also known by different names in different countries as ‘the world is yours’, ‘nazi speed’, ‘madness drugs’, ‘bikers’ coffee’ etc.
Yaba is a synthetic drug
When contacted, Narcotic & Border Affairs Manipur, SP (NAB), K Meghachandra Singh stated that ‘Yaba’ and ‘Sunflower’ are two different kinds of drugs.
Yaba, he explained, is a synthetic (chemical) drug belonging to Amphetamine Type Substance (ATS) while Sunflower belongs to the opioid group of drugs.
Concurring, Ketholelie Angami, President of the Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) said, Yaba is a totally different drug which falls under the group of stimulant drugs - amphetamine type substance, while sunflower is from the group of opioid drugs which is similar to the family of heroine and brown sugar. It is also a stimulant drugs i.e. ‘uppers.’
He further explained that ‘Sunflower’ is the most adulterated version of heroin or brown sugar, which is added with too many other chemicals.
Although scientific evidence is required to classify the types of drugs, he maintained that these are two totally different drugs, adding “they are always mixing up these two drugs, confusing themselves and others as well.”
‘Uppers,’ Angami explained is a slang term used to refer to stimulants, a group of drugs that increase energy, alertness and mood, and can also heighten feelings of self-confidence or sexual prowess.
On the other hand, he said Sunflower belongs to depressants or ‘downers’ group of drugs which includes opiods/opiates (heroin, codeine and oxycontin/vicodin), sedative-hypnotics (valium, xanax and halcyon) and alcohol.
Yaba comes in pill, Sunflower in powder
The ‘discernible and visible pattern’ as in dental patterns and discolouration of the teeth as informed by the Police is that of Yaba users and not Sunflower users, as told by a user on condition of anonymity to The Morung Express.
Besides, the symptoms mentioned by the Police on its advisory, he said the gums of regular users become soft and tender, leading to falling off of teeth.
He further explained that Yaba and Sunflower are completely different. Yaba, he said, comes in pills in different colours (pink, purple, orange etc) while Sunflower is a powdery substance.
