Follow-up tests indicate reduction in drug use among students, say police
Mangaluru — The Mangaluru City Police on Sunday said that a large majority of students who tested positive for narcotic use earlier this academic year have since stopped consuming drugs, following counselling and cooperation from parents and college administrations.
In a statement, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said that at the start of the academic year the city police organised drug screening for students. A total of 8,310 students from 150 colleges were screened and 98 students tested positive for drug use and were subsequently referred for counselling with involvement of their parents and respective college managements.
Results of the follow-up drive
As part of continuing efforts, the police conducted a follow-up drive on September 10 to re-test students who had earlier been found positive. Of the 50 students who underwent repeat testing in the second phase, 38 were declared negative and stated that they had stopped consuming drugs. Commissioner Reddy highlighted that this outcome meant that more than 75% of the students who initially tested positive were now testing negative.
“It is encouraging to see more than 75% of the students who initially tested positive testing negative now,” the Commissioner said in his statement.
However, the police noted that 12 students who earlier tested positive continue to test positive in the follow-up. The Commissioner urged parents and college managements to continue close monitoring and follow-up of counselling measures for these students.
Police strategy and community cooperation
The exercise was carried out with the stated cooperation of parents, college managements and the public. The Commissioner emphasised the role of coordinated action involving educational institutions and families in helping students give up narcotic substances.
- Initial screening: 8,310 students from 150 colleges.
- First-phase positives: 98 students sent for counselling.
- Follow-up drive (Sept 10): 50 previously positive students re-tested; 38 negative, 12 still positive.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Students screened | 8,310 |
| Colleges covered | 150 |
| Initially positive | 98 |
| Re-tested (Sept 10) | 50 |
| Re-tested now negative | 38 |
| Re-tested still positive | 12 |
Implications for colleges and families
The police message underscores an emphasis on early detection paired with counselling rather than punitive measures alone. By involving parents and college authorities in counselling programmes, the city police aim to rehabilitate students and prevent recurrence.
Commissioner Reddy asked educational institutions and families to maintain vigilance and continue counselling efforts for the students who remain positive, so that they can be guided away from substance use and towards support services available locally.
Local stakeholders, including college managements, will likely need to develop sustained follow-up mechanisms — such as periodic testing, counselling sessions and referral pathways to de-addiction services — to ensure the gains from this exercise are maintained.
The police release did not give details on the types of narcotics detected, modalities of the counselling programme, or whether any cases will be pursued under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act; the focus in the statement was on rehabilitation and collaboration.
As city institutions prepare for the remainder of the academic year, the report from the Mangaluru Police offers an early indication that coordinated screening and counselling can yield measurable reductions in drug use among the student population, while also signalling the need for continued monitoring of those who have not yet responded to interventions.
