Tobacco addicts in a hurry to stock up in Telangana

Hyderabad: Amid speculations rife about an imminent lockdown doing the rounds, people in the Old City are making a beeline to the stores to buy tobacco products in bulk. People were seen at several stores ignoring social distancing at Edi Bazar, Yakutpura, Mir Alam Mandi, Nampally, Mallepally, Bahadurpura for purchasing tobacco and other products.

Several shops in Lad Bazar, Pathergatti, Begum Bazar decided to close their shops for a week and as a result a spurt in purchasing goods is witnessed.

Earlier, during the lockdown the tobacco addicts in the city shelled out double and at times three times the price of cigarettes.

Ali, a resident of Moghulpura said, "Last time we did not anticipate and spent a lot of money. The intention is to stock products at least for a fortnight."

Majid Ali, a customer at Eidi Bazar said, "On safe side and to keep the stock of at least 10 days, came to purchase cigarette packet."

There is a perception that people only stock groceries, but the fact is that several people cannot do without cigarettes and other tobacco-related products.

Imran, 55, a resident of Shamsheergunj, was heard saying, "I just cannot finish my morning ritual without a hot cuppa and the customary cigarette," even as others at the chaliya store (a place where pan, pan masala, nuts, cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products are sold) laughed their guts out.

Nicotine is the main addictive chemical in tobacco. It causes a rush of adrenaline when absorbed in the bloodstream or inhaled via cigarette smoke. Nicotine also triggers an increase in dopamine. This is sometimes referred to as the brain's "happy" chemical.

Dopamine stimulates the area of the brain associated with pleasure and reward. Like any other drug, use of tobacco over time can cause a physical and psychological addiction. This is also true for smokeless forms of tobacco, such as snuff and chewing tobacco, according to healthline.com.