Drug addiction on the rise among college students: Experts

A Correspondent

GOALPARA: Cases of drug addiction are on the rise among the students of the colleges of Goalpara district. This was claimed by the doctors of the mental health department of the Goalpara Civil Hospital on Tuesday in a workshop aimed to train the college teachers.

"Beside other drugs, the addiction of heroin injection is prevalent in Goalpara. Many people don't know that the college students in large numbers have fallen prey to this drug," said Dr. UpamoyNath, senior psychiatrist and program officer of the district mental health programmes, Goalpara.

DrNath further added, "Sometimes they realize the dire consequences and come for treatment. Then they share their experiences of how they became addicted. First they try once or twice with their friends but slowly they become addicted to it. The addiction ultimately leads to mental illnesses. This is particularly seen in the teenage group."

There are several government and private colleges in Goalpara town where thousands of students from other parts of Lower Assam come to study. The growing number of cases of different types of drug addiction is certainly a cause of concern for the parents.

The programme on Tuesday was arranged under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) at the Nursing Training Institute, Nayapara. The Joint Director of Health Services, DrAbhijitBasu gave the inaugural speech and emphasized identifying and treating the mental illness cases for the greater interest of the society.

On the other hand, Dr HrisikeshKalita, neuro psychiatrist from the department, focused on the different aspects of neuro psychiatry, including causes and ways of handling stress in the modern world. Both psychiatrists also imparted training on signs and symptoms of different mental problems – neurosis and psychosis.

PurnimaPegu, clinical psychologist, and Sk. Khurshida Ahmed, community health officer, also spoke on the occasion. About 20 college teachers, besides several lawyers, participated in the programme.

Eight districts of the State have already been covered under the NMHP scheme, namely Nagaon, Goalpara, Tinsukia, Darang, Nalbari, Morigaon, Karbi Along and Karimganj and all the MHP centres are located in the district civil hospitals.

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