Despite efforts by the administration, one in three youth in Himachal Pradesh consume synthetic like chitta, which has driven neighbouring Punjab’s youth to the edge.

I would come home from a studio at eleven in the night and ride my bike slowly, because my hands were still shaking and I did not want my family to see that. After reaching home, I would scroll through the abuse on my phone and feel my chest tighten. This was the slow work of being ground down by people who did not want to win the argument; instead, they wanted to make sure the argument cost me something every time.

When migrants feel the pressure to hide or abandon their traditional foods, they may also begin distancing themselves from an important part of who they are. Adivasi migrants from Odisha say they are forced to hide their foods from their coworkers.