The youth was stopped by the traffic police and was being fined for the tinted glasses on the car, when his refusal to step out of the car led the police to search the vehicle and chance upon the narcotic substance. The case lends credence to the fear that drug abuse in colleges and among students is on the rise. The State that has seen some major drugs hauls in the past few months, cannot ignore the fact that narcotics have moved from the coastal area and spread across the State, slipping into college campuses and perhaps even schools.
This is not the first case of a student from a college in Goa being found in possession of banned substances. There have been cases where other students have been held with narcotics, and the cases have gone to trial. Two years ago, in 2018, there was the case of a student from a college in Farmagudi being held for possession, and prior to that in 2016, two other students have been held after beng caught with drugs. There are other instances of drug abuse among youth and students and reports of the availability of narcotics in close proximity to educational institutions.
Just last month there was a video clip that showed a minor boy from Bicholim confessing to consuming drugs that were offered to him free of cost. There was an inquiry demanded and then came the explanation from the police that the boy had consumed beer on his way home from school and met with an accident. But, one can’t ignore the fact that there have been reports in the past of ‘hash brownies’ (brownies laced with drugs) being passed around in educational institutes or just outside their campuses. The possibilities that this can be happening cannot be ruled out.
There is other evidence that drugs have broken through into college campuses. Two years ago, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had expressed apprehensions on the increasing incidents of students linked to the drugs menace, observing an increasing trend of cannabis use in private as well as government schools and indulgence of college students. The Chief Minister too had admitted that drugs had reached across the State. Acting on these apprehensions, there have been awareness programmes conducted to make students aware of the pitfalls of taking drugs. But, merely such programmes may not be sufficient to keep students away from the substance. The authorities have to act on the drug peddlers to break the supply chain.
The State has to consider developing a system, whereby students can reach out to the authorities with information on drug abuse occurring in campuses, but where their identity remains unknown. Students have to be assured that they will not ever be called as witnesses, as based on information provided the police will undertake their investigation and then act. It can work if the State guarantees the anonymity of the informer. Students, who are not involved in narcotics use, may be inclined to reveal what they know about what is happening in campuses, if their identity is kept secret. They could perhaps be the best weapon that the State can have in the battle to clean up the campuses of drugs.
In the fight against drugs, it is not enough for the opposition to make allegations and thrown challenges at the government and for the latter to defend itself. The fight has to be a concerted effort, as narcotics not just brings a bad name to the State, but more importantly can kill the future of the youth. If drugs have made their way to the educational institution campuses, then the menace cannot be ignored any longer.
