Pushing for the need of an ‘anti-drugs’ committee in every school and college in the district, Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar on Thursday said it is a matter of concern that Udupi stands third in the number of police cases of drug consumption.

Speaking at a programme on the “Anti Drugs Committees in schools and colleges”, Mr. Shankar said Bengaluru stands first, followed by Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in terms of the number of drug consumption cases registered by police.

Mr. Shankar said many of the drug consumers were college-going students. “We have heard more of their problems,” Mr. Shankar said. He added that if an ‘Anti-drugs’ committee is set up, then the principal of the school/college and the police will remain in constant communication, which will make those students who are addicted cautious.

The committee will help such students get the necessary psychological suppor, he said.

The committees should comprise the school/college principal, two teaching staff, and three students. The committee should have regular activities at the respective institutions. They should have regular meetings. When information about drugs sale and consumption is given, name of the concerned student or the college should not be disclosed and necessary action should be taken, the SP said.

The meeting was held at the Bannanje Narayana Guru auditorium. Principal of Government PU College, Malpe, B. Vergese, Udupi Additional SP S. Sudhakar Naika; Assistant SP of Karkala Sub Division, Harsha Priyamvada, and other police officers attended the programme.