A total of 107 university students were charged with drug violations in Japan between January and September, up 16.3 percent from a year earlier, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
The sharp rise indicates that the total for this year may exceed the 30-year high recorded last year, the NPA said.
The agency has instructed prefectural police to cooperate with universities in preventing drug violations through entrance orientations and festival events, it said.
The number of university, junior college and graduate school students charged with stimulant drug violations in the nine months declined by eight to 14, but those charged with marijuana violations numbered 82, up 19. Eleven were accused of possessing Ecstasy, up by four.