PM appeals to youth to shun drugs

Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, February 19

Calling upon the youth to stay away from drugs and join the campaign against substance abuse, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said drug trade was helping strengthen the hands of terrorists.

“Those associated with drug abuse and its trade are helping the enemies of the country who are launching attacks on our security forces,” the Prime Minister stated while launching the ‘Drug-Free India’ campaign via video-conferencing at a function organised in the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology here today.

The campaign has been initiated by The Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in association with the Haryana Government and was telecast live in about 7,000 institutes of higher learning in the country.

In his address on the occasion, the PM said: “Narcotics trade is controlled by anti-social and anti-national elements which are bent upon destabilising peace and harmony in the country.

“Substance abuse is a psychological-sociological-medical problem. The World Health Organisation has stated that around three crore people are affected by the disorder due to drug abuse. The number of deaths due to drug abuse rose by 60% from 2000 to 2019, which is an alarming situation.”

The PM said the Centre and the state government had taken steps to stop cross-border drug trade. “We have prepared a multipronged plan to tackle the menace of drug trade and drug abuse at the national level. The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (2018-25) includes schemes like preventive education and awareness, capacity building, focused intervention in vulnerable areas, and research and evaluation to curb the menace of drug abuse in states,” the PM said.

“If any youth falls into the drug trap, the family, friends and society have a crucial role to get him out of the crisis and stand by him.... The victims should not shy away from talking about the problem,” he added.

On the occasion, CMManohar Lal Khattar said the state government had opened 61 de-addiction centres and helped 25,000 youths get rid of drug abuse in five years. The Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar too urged the youth to opt for a healthy life and keep away from any kind of substance abuse.

Countrywide drive

• The Prime Minister on Tuesday launched the ‘Drug-Free India’ campaign via video-conferencing at a function organised in the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology in Hisar. 
• The campaign has been initiated by The Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in association with the Haryana Government and was telecast live in about 7,000 institutes of higher learning in the country.