Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (Head of the Police Force) Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal said on Wednesday (June 24, 2026), while inaugurating a two-day symposium on the occasion of ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse’ at Guru Nanak College, Chennai, that youngsters must become the brand ambassadors of creating a drug-free State.

He urged students, who are “the precious wealth of the country”, not to fall prey to various kinds of drug addiction, including ganja and synthetic drugs. “These drugs are not produced locally but are actually trafficked from other parts of the country,” he said. 

The DGP, highlighting the various pressures faced by youngsters, including exams and peer pressure, said they are basically addicted to two things: drugs and social media. He said: “Some vested interest groups, for their financial greed, would recommend to the youth, who are the most vulnerable community, that taking drugs is a cool thing. Students are unknowingly falling into a trap and may have to face serious consequences in the future.” Mr. Aggarwal wanted the youth to be careful and wary of those influencing them to take drugs by rejecting them outrightly with the slogan: “I don’t need it and we don’t need it.” 

Mr. Aggarwal emphasised that the State has shown educational progress and is highly industrialised, but the drug menace among the youth has put a question mark on the path of its economic development. 

K. Shankar, Additional DGP of the Enforcement Bureau CID, also spoke on the occasion. 

More than 700 college students who participated in the programme took an oath against the use of drugs.