Pubdate: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 Source: DNA (India) Copyright: 2012 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd Contact: http://www.dnaindia.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4442 Author: Kishore Rathod STUDENTS BLOW DOUGH ON DOPE The consumption of drugs like marijuana and hashish (charas) has risen sharply among city students in the past couple of years, with regulars blowing up thousands of rupees on the habit every month and risking their young lives in the bargain. The easy availability of these drugs has seen a spurt in their consumption. From the neighbourhood paanwala to the bhelwala outside colleges, nondescript vendors are shelling out pudis to students at seemingly affordable rates. A student of a south Mumbai college, who has been consuming marijuana for four years, says that the police are only strict about dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine, but lax when it comes to less potent drugs like weed. He adds that some newcomers are palmed off weed mixed with ordinary grass and given the money that can be made, some students stock supplies to cater to their peers' needs. Ankit Agarwal (name changed), a 16-year-old student of a Matunga college, smokes two joints a day. "It calms the body, sharpens the mind and gives an overall sense of well-being," he says. Introduced to the drug in his first year of junior college,he believes it is non-addictive and has no side-effects. Clinical psychologist Salma Prabhu says she has seen a spurt in drug addiction cases among students in recent times, the prime reasons being a drop in awareness campaigns, boredom and loneliness among teenagers and peer pressure. "It's become as common as smoking. Even 13-14 year-olds are consuming them," she says adding that this behaviour leads to juvenile delinquency and violent behaviour. Prabhu believes that consumption of drugs is much more common than we think and advises parents to closely interact with their children and spot the danger signs before it's too late. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt