The Telangana government intensified its campaign against narcotic drugs, calling on every citizen to play an active role in eliminating drug abuse while stressing that building a drug-free State required collective action from the government, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, parents and society.

The appeal came during a large-scale awareness programme organised by the Eagle Force Telangana, in association with the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons, to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Shilpakala Vedika, on Friday.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka attended the programme as the chief guest. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Duddilla Sridhar Babu and Adluri Laxman Kumar, Director General of Police C.V. Anand, Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh Reddy, Eagle Director Sandeep Shandilya, actor Ram Pothineni, actress Meenakshi Chaudhary, international artistic gymnast Budda Aruna Reddy and other dignitaries participated.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Vikramarka said there was no place for narcotic drugs in Telangana and reaffirmed the government’s determination to dismantle drug networks while protecting young people from addiction. He said healthy, responsible and empowered youth were central to the state’s future and urged them to stay away from drugs, pursue meaningful goals and contribute positively to society.

The Deputy CM said laws alone could not eliminate the drug menace unless society itself changed. He called upon educational institutions, teachers, parents, public representatives and celebrities to work together to discourage drug abuse, adding that short anti-drug video messages by film personalities could have a positive influence on young people.

Mr. Prabhakar described drug addiction as a serious social evil that threatened the future of the younger generation and urged society to help people battling addiction through counselling and rehabilitation instead of isolating them. Stressing that the fight against drugs was not the responsibility of the police alone, he called upon every citizen to become a ‘soldier’ in the government’s campaign against narcotics and encouraged young people to participate actively in awareness programmes.

Mr. Shandilya said EAGLE had expanded awareness campaigns across Telangana while simultaneously strengthening enforcement against drug trafficking. He said the government had equipped the wing with specialised vehicles, advanced drug detection equipment and other modern resources to support its operations.

Highlighting the department’s work, Mr. Shandilya said EAGLE had identified 822 students in drug-related cases during 2024, while around 600 drug users had been identified and counselled. He said awareness, counselling and rehabilitation were as important as strict law enforcement in addressing substance abuse and reaffirmed EAGLE’s commitment to building a drug-free Telangana.

The programme also featured the screening of short films, awareness videos and audio-visual presentations highlighting the dangers of drug abuse and its impact on individuals, families and society. The films reinforced the campaign’s message of prevention and encouraged young people to stay away from narcotics.

Mr. Pothineni appealed to young people to stay completely away from drugs and achieve success through dedication, discipline and hard work. Ms. Chaudhary urged youth to make healthy choices and become role models, while Budda Aruna Reddy said discipline, fitness and a healthy lifestyle were the foundations of success.

As part of the awareness campaign, winners of drawing, essay writing and other competitions organised among students were presented with prizes and certificates.