A cross section of college students interviewed on Monday by The Hindu denied availability of drugs on or near their campuses. Though suicide of an 18-year-old pre-university course student has come as a shock, drug abuse – the cause for the student’s suicide – did not appear to be a matter of concern for students.
Devadutt, who is studying final year Mechanical Diploma course in Karnataka Polytechnic, said drugs were sold and abused around his college campus two years ago.
“Of late, I have not come across any such incident around our campus,” he added.
Devdutt, who hails from Hassan district, said vigilance at the three hostels of the polytechnic, had been strengthened. Sharan, a first year diploma student from the same college, said he had not come across any incident of sale of drugs around the campus. The suicide of the pre-university student, he said, had disturbed him and some of his classmates.
“We feel sad that a studious girl had fallen pray to drug abuse. Addiction to drugs takes our focus away from the goals we pursue,” he said.
A second year MBA student from SDM College of Business Management said he had not come across people around his campus attracting students towards drugs. One of his classmates said some students, however, smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol outside the campus. Similar was the response of some of PU students at Canara College. “There is no sale of drugs and other narcotic substances on our campus,” said a second year Bachelor of Arts student at St. Aloysius College. He and his four classmates said they were not aware of the suicide on Sunday.
