Drug addiction linked to 70%-80% of male university dropouts, says Professor

COLOMBO – Between 70% and 80% of male university students who drop out do so because of drug addiction, a senior psychiatrist has said, warning that traffickers are increasingly targeting schoolchildren and undergraduates.

Professor Amila Isuru, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, made the remarks at a media briefing under the ‘A Nation United’ national anti-drug program, which focused on substance abuse among students and youth.

He said a considerable number of university students use or are addicted to narcotics, and accused traffickers of deliberately cultivating young users.

“Drug dealers are making an immense effort to get our children used to drugs,” he said.

Citing research conducted in both schools and universities, Professor Isuru said a clear pattern had emerged of young people being introduced to drugs and then becoming dependent on them.

“Research done in schools shows there is a tendency to get students used to drugs and become accustomed to them. We observe a similar trend among university students,” he said.

He explained that addiction typically persists not because of pleasure derived from the drug, but because users seek to avoid withdrawal symptoms once dependence sets in, a dynamic he said was a major driver of continued use among students.

“They continue using drugs to manage the withdrawal symptoms that occur when they stop,” he said.

Turning to university dropout rates, Professor Isuru said addiction was the leading factor behind male students failing to complete their degrees.

“For about 70% to 80% of the male students who drop out because they are unable to continue their courses, that situation has arisen due to addiction to some form of drug,” he said.

-ENCL