A considerable number of university students use or are addicted to drugs, with around 70% to 80% of male students who drop out of university reportedly found to have some form of drug addiction, Professor Amila Isuru said.
The Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka made the remarks during a media discussion held under the “A Nation United” national anti-drug programme, which focused on drug addiction among university students and young people.
Professor Amila said people who become dependent on narcotics may continue using them not necessarily because of the pleasure associated with drug use, but to manage withdrawal symptoms that arise when they stop using the substances.
He said the need to manage such withdrawal symptoms can drive individuals, including students, to continue using drugs.
The professor also warned that drug traffickers are making significant efforts to introduce schoolchildren and university students to narcotics and encourage continued use.
Referring to university dropouts, Professor Amila said approximately 70% to 80% of male students who leave university because they are unable to continue their studies are reportedly affected by addiction to some form of drug.
He added that research conducted within both the school and university systems had identified a tendency among young people to be introduced to and become accustomed to drug use.
“Research done in schools shows that there is a certain tendency to get students used to drugs and become accustomed to drugs. We also observe a similar trend of students in universities being drawn into drug use,” he said.
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