Chennai: It has been a year since the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to investigate against the availability of Ganja-laced chocolates after large quantities of them were seized in North Chennai. But the fact that the sale of such intoxicated chocolates prevails near the school premises, explains the official inaction, admit private school authorities.
School authorities seeking anonymity said that many students were found to consume such chocolates. Deccan Chronicle visited a few private schools in North Chennai to find that chocolates, candies and chewing gums containing nicotine, cocaine and tobacco were being sold openly near schools, exposing the students of all age group to these hazardous products.
School authorities blame the easy availability of intoxicated chocolates as they are openly sold at petty shops near educational institutions. “Lack of regulations on tobacco products, which are available at a cheap price in petty shops make students fall prey to it easily,” says V Raju, Principal of a higher secondary school in North Chennai. He admitted that there were several instances when intoxicated chocolates were seized from school bags of many students.
Tobacco based intoxicants and chocolates such as Cool lip being sold at petty shops near schools and educational institutions are turning an addiction among youngsters these days.
G. Krishna (name changed), an 18-year-old boy, says that his school seniors mentioned about Cool lip to him, which became an addiction for him later.“It gave an elevated feeling like that of a drug that made me numb for few hours. I started using it daily, but it affected my academics because I could not concentrate. My parents and teachers found that I was using such product and got me de-addicted,” says Krishna.
However, officials from Food Safety Department said, “We have given candid instructions to carry out checks on the sale of such products near educational institutions and such operations are being undertaken. We urge the school authorities to alert the department if any such practice is witnessed”.
Intoxicated chocolates can cause serious health hazards such as nausea, unconsciousness leukoplakia and cancer. These “chocolates” are plaguing the mental abilities of children as young as 14 years as it gradually affects the functioning of their brains, say doctors. “Tobacco, in any form and amount, is harmful to youngsters. The preservatives and colouring agents used in these products can be cancerous,” says Dr Anitha Ramesh, a senior oncologist.
“Addiction to tobacco and other drugs in school students from a very young age not only leads to psychological disorders, but also can cause physical illnesses like nausea, infections, throat, weakness and cardiac disorders,” says Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, Kilpauk Medical College.
