Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday called for constant vigil by all members of society to weed out the menace of substance abuse.
He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Aspirations 2018,’ a project rolled out by the State police to make educational institutions drug-free.
The Chief Minister said today’s children and youth were the leaders of tomorrow. However, drug abuse destroyed not only individual lives but entire families and society. ‘Aspirations’ was a battle cry against drug abuse, he said.
Many experimented with drugs for fun or owing to peer pressure, but soon got get hooked to it. Steer clear of it completely, he urged the children.
He said drugs could cause lapses in concentration on studies or work, affecting mental stability, and snapping of social ties, it made one desperate, so much so that people go to any lengths to get their hands on it. They do not even shy away from crimes, and end up becoming anti-social elements.
The drug mafia, he pointed out, was even more powerful than some governments in terms of finances and arms. Even children were not spared by them. Against this backdrop, there was need to be extremely vigilant against drugs. Though the police, Excise, and other agencies have taken steps to crack down on drugs, every member of society, be it students, teachers, or parents, need to be alert to any signs of use or trafficking of drugs, and intervene immediately. Only such concerted efforts, along with the State police’s initiatives, would yield results, Mr. Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister praised the department’s efforts in rescuing 76 persons from the clutches of drugs. It would provide a boost to the police’s confidence in carrying forward such initiatives, he said.
Actors Jayasurya and Priya Prakash Varrier and cricketer Sanju Samson symbolically bid farewell to drugs and other intoxicants and urged society to do the same.
In his address, Mr. Jayasurya said there was nothing cool about substance use, and one should stay away from it completely. One should have the strength to say ‘no’ to drugs. “People should find intoxication not in drugs, but in life and work,” the actor said. Friends were not those who nudged one towards drugs, he warned the students.
Ms. Varrier said only awareness could win the fight against drugs, while Mr. Samson urged the students to help their friends who were addicted to drugs to kick the habit.
Commandos of the Kerala Police rapelled down ropes with banners displaying the theme of Aspirations ‘Say no to drugs.’ A short film was also screened.
Individuals who had helped 76 persons to kick the drug habit through awareness, counselling, and rehabilitation were honoured on the occasion.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera and other senior police officials were present.
