Mangaluru: As part of efforts to make Mangaluru a drug-free city, the Mangaluru City Police have tested 8,310 students from 150 colleges for drug use, with 98 students testing positive in the initial screening.
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said in a press statement that steps were taken to provide counselling to the students who tested positive through their parents and the respective college administrations.
As part of a special campaign conducted on Friday, 50 students who had tested positive in the first round were subjected to repeat testing.
The results of the repeat tests were negative for 38 students, who told the authorities that they had stopped using drugs. The Commissioner said the fact that more than 75 per cent of those who had initially tested positive subsequently tested negative was an encouraging development.
However, 12 students continued to test positive in the repeat screening. Their parents and college administrations have been instructed to continue the counselling process closely and maintain constant monitoring of the students.
The police said the testing and counselling initiative is aimed not only at detecting drug use among students but also at helping those found positive to give up substance use through counselling and continued supervision.