The New Indian Express

• 46 per cent of the addicts were Christians.
• 46 per cent of the addicts were degree students
• 84 per cent of the addicts were within the age group 17-23
• 26 per cent pursuing professional courses
• 28 per cent were PG students

Mangalore, May 14: Hostels in city are at high risk to drug abuse. Close on the heels of a report revealing an increase in drug abuse among high school students, another study on college students staying in hostels or as paying guests in city has found a huge chunk among them being habitual users of drugs.

City's first 'peer-led intervention' study covering 50 students addicted to drugs reveals 62 per cent among them are habitual users of drugs. The study conducted under the guidance of Link De-addiction and Counseling Centre indicates that addicts prefer illegal drugs like ganja, heroin (82 per cent) and a small group (18 per cent) content to abusing medical drugs.

Link De-Ad action and Counseling Centre director T S Thomas says that with college managements denying reality they decided to study the pattern of drug abuse among addicts in hostels with help from drug users. Away from parental control and influenced by peer control hostellers are more vulnerable than any other groups, he stresses.

The observation is vindicated by the study which concludes that 64 per cent took to drugs due to peer pressure and for enjoyment. With 74 per cent of addicts confessing to procuring drugs through drug carriers, the strategy of expanding the many circle of carriers and consumers is thus no hearsay but a sinister strategy followed by all drug sellers.

Many of the students (68 per cent) did specify in the survey that they get money from parents. In reality parents (80 per cent) who were in dark about their children's drug abuse actually paid scant attention to how their children were spending money.

The report stresses that 46 per cent of the addicts were doing their degree courses and only 26 per cent among them were doing professional courses. 28 per cent of the respondents were PG students. 84 per cent of the addicts were within the age group 17-23 and 46 per cent of the addicts were Christians. With the study showing that 94 per cent of the addicts consumed alcohol and 82 per cent of them are stuck to tobacco abuse, the tendency to shift from one drug abuse to another is thus common. As there is silver lining in every dark cloud, 66 per cent among the addicts are not happy with the habit and are willing to stop drug abuse.

"College managements must not close their eyes to the growing problem but must seek professional help," Thomas said.