Professor Amila Isuru says a considerable number of university students use or are addicted to drugs, with around 70%-80% of male students who drop out of universities reportedly found to be addicted to some form of narcotic substance.
The Professor in Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka made these remarks while participating in a media discussion held under the ‘A Nation United’ national anti-drug programme, focusing on drug addiction among university students and youth.
Professor Amila Isuru said people who become addicted to narcotics continue using them not necessarily because of the pleasure associated with narcotics or any other reason, but to manage addiction withdrawal symptoms that arise when they stop using them.
“Any individual continues to use drugs not because of the so-called pleasure they claim to derive from narcotics or any other reason. They continue using drugs to manage the addiction withdrawal symptoms that occur when they stop using drugs,” he said.
He further stated that the need to control such withdrawal symptoms can drive individuals, including students, to continue using drugs.
The professor warned that in the current situation, drug traffickers are making significant efforts to get schoolchildren and university students addicted to drugs.
“In Sri Lanka at present, drug dealers are making an immense effort to get our children used to drugs,” he said.
Referring to university dropouts, Professor Amila said, “If we look at the students who drop out of our university because they are unable to continue their courses, for about 70% to 80% of the male students, that situation has arisen due to addiction to some form of drug.”
Professor Amila added that research conducted within both the school and university systems has identified a certain 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.
