Students get high in school labs

Kids are experimenting with synthetic drugs made from common chemicals

NEW DELHI: A deadly experiment is unfolding in school labs as students in search of a new high or trying to beat the exam stress resort to synthetic drugs made up of common chemicals

The use of GHB and amphetamine has increased almost three-fold in the Capital since the board exams began. That's because drugs like GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) can be very easily prepared from gamma-butyrolactone - a common industrial chemical. Amphetamine is very easy to make too because of its simple 2-PEA formula.

"From their red eyes and droopy faces we can tell that some students consume drugs and come to the exam hall," says student counsellor Vinita Kaul.

Another counsellor, Geetanjali Kumar, says, "Often kids are forced by their friends to take drugs as they believe it reduces tension."

The surprising thing is the raw  material for these synthetic drugs are stolen by youngsters from their school laboratories.

DNA managed to track down some students who use these drugs. "Rahul Verma (name changed), a class 12th student who uses such drugs, says, "It is a great way to get a high at little cost as we take the stuff from the school laboratory without anyone even suspecting something amiss."

When asked if he and his friends didn't fear getting caught, he said, "We do it in groups of five to seven and nobody has got a whiff of it yet." Rahul said he's in it for "for style and fun but it helps me reduce anxiety during my board exams."

Anirudh Singh, another synthetic drug user says, "It's the new trend as everyone is doing it, even girls, and I don't want to be left behind plus it's almost free." According to him it also helps him deal with his Std XII boards. "It doesn't doesn't make me sleepy while studying," he adds.

Schools, however, are clueless about the trend.  

"We have three lab assistants and neither have chemicals gone missing nor have children been caught abusing them," said principal of Chiranjiv Bharti School Gurgaon, Rashi Narula.

Child physcologist at Gangaram Hospital Roma Kumar says parents are to blame. "These children don't have any idea what these drugs will do to their mind and body," says Kumar, adding parents should be more vigilant.

Experts also warn about the side-effects of synthetic drugs which can cause frustration, leading to chronic depression and violent behaviour. (Names of students have been changed.)