HYDERABAD: Two younger males from small cities in Telangana, learning for a grasp’s diploma at a college in Texas, US, died simply three minutes aside six months in the past. They have been roommates and had spent the night snorting cocaine after they overdosed. Their associates rushed them to a hospital the place they died.
Within the final one 12 months, a minimum of 30 circumstances of drug overdose – some resulting in dying – have been reported to the Telugu Affiliation of North America, from California, Texas, and Connecticut.
“The general variety of Indian college students taking medication is way increased. A few of them have been discovered overdosed and in an unconscious state inside a number of months of coming to the US,” Ashok Kolla, TANA ex-secretary and member advised TOI.
Indian college students overseas taking to medication is just not new. TOI had reported in April about a lot of them in Canada utilizing medication to beat unemployment blues. However the excessive variety of overdose circumstances has startled many. And it isn’t simply the dearth of jobs or homesickness that’s driving them in direction of a harmful excessive.
“Unemployment points sometimes come up later, often after college students full their grasp’s levels,” stated Vishweshwar Reddy Kalavala, chairman of the World Telangana Affiliation.
‘College students experimenting with medication because of peer stress or for brand spanking new experiences’
“The first motive for drug use is simple availability of gear on faculty campuses, usually obtained via friends. College students begin experimenting with medication because of peer stress or a want to discover new experiences, fuelled by their newfound freedom. Moreover, in lots of elements of the US, medication resembling marijuana are authorized and comparatively cheap.”In Connecticut, a scholar was just lately discovered overdosed and unconscious, however he survived after receiving well timed therapy.
“He’s at the moment staying together with his kinfolk and is present process counselling,” Kolla added.
A 27-year-old from Hyderabad, at the moment residing in Texas, shared an analogous expertise involving his 22-year-old cousin who moved to Houston in Sept 2023 for a grasp’s diploma in info expertise.
“He used to borrow cash from me, his associates, and different kinfolk citing bills for school assignments and stationery. Later, his roommates advised us he had taken to medication. He stopped paying lease and attending faculty, utilizing the borrowed cash to fund his habit. He’s doing higher now,” he added.
He added that the scholars he spoke to stated they acquired medication for as low-cost as $15 to $20. The affiliation conducts consciousness campaigns and webinars for the scholars on substance abuse.
“We additionally organise de-addiction counselling classes,” he stated.
Universities within the US too report that they’re seeing an upward pattern of drug abuse amongst Indian college students. Balaji Krishnan, provost of the College of Memphis, stated many face disciplinary motion if they’re caught taking medication.
“If a world scholar is arrested or violates the legislation, most police or legislation businesses will report the matter to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Then ICE determines whether or not the coed ought to be deported or not,” he stated.
A de-addiction therapist from Atlanta with 9 years of expertise, stated, “I see a minimum of 10 college students aged 18 to 22 every month coping with habit to alcohol or medication. Many extra are depressed, burdened by unemployment and the stress of repaying loans.”
