Bigg Boss fame Elvish Yadav's arrest: What is snake venom addiction?

On Sunday (March 17), social media influencer and Bigg Boss OTT winner Elvish Yadav was arrested for allegedly arranging 'snake venom' at rave parties at Noida. But what has venom to do with parties, you may wonder.

Interestingly, it is a recreational drug used by many at rave parties and those interested in the drug deliberately expose themselves to it for experiencing its supposedly euphoric effects on their bodies. Yes, it can be deadly and unpredictable as well, and can even result in long-lasting psychological damage. 

Types of venoms
A few might argue that the venoms are used even for medicinal purposes, but that doesn't mean that their unsupervised use as a recreational drug is therefore safe. Many experts say the risks far outweigh any benefits users might experience. There are four types of snake venoms used in parties - Neurotoxic venoms that have an effect similar to opioids, Hematoxic venoms that apparently give temporary pain relief, Cytotoxic venoms and Cardiotoxic venoms. All of them can be extremely dangerous and lead to various health issues and even death. It's also important to note that using snake venom for recreational purposes is illegal in India. 

Treating the addiction
Just like any other drug abuse, snake venom addiction will also have to be treated following a comprehensive approach that addresses both the psychological and physical effects of the condition. A combination of medical detoxification processes, monitoring and treatment for tissue damage and organ dysfunctions, behavioural therapies, participation in support groups and aftercare planning is required to treat individuals struggling with the addiction.