Telangana toddy adulteration: Kids barely out of crib hooked; doctors report post-Covid rise in cases

HYDERABAD: The latest instance of toddy adulteration in Telangana, which has left seven people dead and dozens in hospital, has exposed another dark and sinister side of the drink otherwise considered less potent.Doctors are reporting an increase in the number of children being addicted to toddy that has been spiked with sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium).

Some of these children are as young as two years old. Having barely learnt to stand on their feet, they are brought to doctors with withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, fever and sleeplessness.Psychiatrists TOI spoke to said it is common practice in parts of rural Telangana for parents and grandparents to give their children toddy to calm them and put them to sleep. What the parents don't realise is that the toddy is often laced with sedatives. Doctors add that they are seeing a substantial increase in such cases since the Covid-19 pandemic with four to five cases being reported every month.