Drug use has reached schools; marked shift from ganja to synthetic drugs: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday flagged the exponential rise in drug related cases in the State. .Justice VG Arun said that the social menace of drug use can no longer be ignored when even the State Assembly recently suspended its regular business to discuss the impact of substance abuse and its permeation in schools. "We have reached a stage where the State Assembly had to suspend its regular business to consider this social menace. I read in the newspaper that on February 8th, the session was suspended to consider this issue because it has now reached the schools. This is the reality we have to deal with. We have been pushing it off saying that in Kerala it is not happening," the judge orally observed. .The Court was hearing a bail application filed by a person arrested for offences punishable under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act).Citing statistics, Justice Arun flagged the alarming rise of NDPS cases and the marked shift from ganja use to the use of more dangerous synthetic drugs. "The statistics are alarming. There were 27 thousand odd arrests in NDPS crimes in 2024 alone. The increase from 2021 to 2024 is 330 per cent. There is also a marked shift from ganja to synthetic drug use. Its common use in parties and what they are calling in after parties is concerning," he said. .While initially stating that the bail application would be dismissed, the Court ultimately agreed to list it again next week.However, Justice Arun once again emphasised that courts have to step in when a series of NDPS crimes are registered against the same individuals. "These NDPS offences are offences against society as a whole and there is an alarming rise in such cases ... When it comes to subsequent crimes for NDPS offences, the court has to step in and cancel the bail," Justice Arun said.