YouTuber and Big Boss OTT season 2 winner, Elvish Yadav, has been arrested by the Noida Police in connection with the alleged use of snake venom as a recreational drug at a party in Delhi-NCR. The arrest comes after an FIR was lodged against Yadav and five others last November following a complaint by an NGO run by Maneka Gandhi 'People For Animals'.
Snake venom, the toxic saliva of snakes containing zootoxins, serves to immobilize and digest prey for the reptiles. While some snakes inject venom during a bite, others can spit it out. Using snake venom as a recreational drug is an uncommon and highly dangerous practice in India, carrying potentially life-threatening risks.
According to a 2018 study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology and Physiology, snake venom was used recreationally, with individuals being bitten on their feet or tongue. The study detailed a case of a teenager's snake venom addiction and his involvement in organizing rave parties for recreational drug purposes.
The study highlighted the dangerous effects of snake venom, including feelings of drowsiness, followed by extended periods of elevated happiness, enhanced well-being, and reduced desire for sleep lasting up to a week. Snake venom injects active metabolites into the body, such as serotonin and prostaglandins, resulting in various psychotropic effects, including hypnotic and sedative properties.
Common symptoms following a snakebite include an increased sense of well-being, lethargy, blurred vision, dizziness, and intense euphoria. However, the effects can vary from person to person. Individuals attempting this form of abuse are primarily adolescents, although adults occasionally engage in it as well.
Snake venom for recreational use is typically obtained from nomadic tribespeople and slum snake charmers and may involve species such as the common krait, cobra, green snake, rat snake, and green vine. The practice poses significant health risks and underscores the need for awareness and prevention measures to combat such dangerous behaviors.