When the cool set in any society takes on a new fad, then it will proliferate throughout that society.

In India at the moment, that fad appears to be cocaine.

The latest status symbol among the rising wealth of Indian twenty and thirty somethings is cocaine, a drug that is growing in prevalence in the cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The unique situation of India means, however, that its growing popularity is somewhat stifled.

The cost of cocaine currently limits its more widespread use, though the rapidly increasing fortunes of the Indian middle class means it is only a matter of time before its spread will become more rapid. At the moment many are still constrained by cost.

Nevertheless, the worrying thing is that it is becoming popular among a certain sub-culture. The young, wealthy middle class is who many youth in India aspire to be like. And that includes its vices.

Many people have argued that the criminalisation of drugs has lead to their increasing popularity as a symbol of rebellion. The association youth make with drugs is that of coolness.

This trend in India will exacerbate the situation and combined with the demographic situation of the country could spell a mounting problem there.