Random drug testing of 10% students to be done every quarter in Udupi

As part of the ongoing campaign against the consumption and sale of drugs, Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa has directed District Health and Family Welfare Officer (DHO) Basavaraj G. Hubballi to ensure random health check-ups of 10% of students every quarter from 166 PU colleges and professional course colleges.

In a letter to the Udupi DHO dated August 5, Ms. Swaroopa said the Anti Drug and Awareness Committees (ADAC) in 120 PU Colleges and 46 colleges running professional courses in the district have been asked to randomly do health check-ups of 10% of students every quarter. The local government medical officer should be ready with team of healthcare professionals to carry out the tests at designated places, the Udupi DC stated.

In another statement, the Udupi District police said each of the ADACs will be headed by the college principal. It will comprise two college staff members, a male and two female students from each class. Local police inspector or the sub inspector (law and order) will be the nodal officer of each of these committees, which will have regular meetings and drug awareness programmes. Once every three months, there will be a random health check-up of 10% of students. These tests should be carried out following written consent of students.

Information about students found positive in the tests for drug consumption should be kept confidential. The students should be subjected to counselling and de-addiction sessions to help them come out of drug addiction.

The information about drug peddlers given by the students and other college staff members will help police to effectively dismantle the drug sale network, and also trace other students who are addicted and bring them out of it. With the college principal being in regular contact with the police, students will desist from getting addicted to drugs, the police stated.