Principal Col VK Bhat hands over a memento to Manoj Modi at Sainik School Tilaiya in Koderma on Tuesday. Picture by Vishvendu Jaipuriar

Drugs cost more than just money. It can prey on the dreams of a bright student and ruin his life.

An hour-long documentary, depicting the plight of a middle-class family where the boy gets pulled into the world of drugs and ends up with AIDS, was screened at Sainik School-Tilaiya in Koderma on Tuesday. The houseful Captain Manoj Auditorium of the cradle had around 761 cadets who got the clear message that drug abuse can easily spoil anyone’s life.

After the screening, the students — from Class VI to XII — listened to intelligence officer of Narcotics Control Bureau Manoj Modi speak on addiction and the ethical consequences of drugs for the next one-and-half-hour.

Modi, who is at present posted in Ranchi, said that students were more vulnerable to drug abuse and spreading awareness was the only solution.

“Don’t follow your friends and fall prey to such temptations. Frustration and anxiety can also trigger drug abuse,” he added.

He then elaborated on the various categories of drugs available and their various nicknames and asked the cadets to be always alert.

Speaking about the consequences of the drug demon, Modi said that addiction often led to broken families, accidents, infertility, crime, corruption and low self-esteem. “It may also spur suicide,” the intelligence officer added.

Interestingly, once a victim is inducted into the circle of drugs, procuring his daily fix does not mean he needs to scrimp.

At the end of his speech, Modi asked the students to be aware of drug peddlers and asked them to say “no” strictly to such people. “When someone offers you drug for the first time, deny strongly,” he added.

Sainik School principal Colonel V.K. Bhat reiterated his commitment of conducting regular lectures on socially relevant topics for benefits of cadets as well as staffs in his welcome speech. Bhat also presented a memento to Modi.

School headmaster and squadron leader Shamim Akhtar gave the vote of thanks.