The Kalaburagi City Police, in association with United Hospital, organised an awareness programme on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Chowk in Kalaburagi on Thursday (June 25, 2025) with senior police officers and medical professionals calling for a collective fight against drug abuse and urging youngsters to stay away from narcotic substances.

Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa, who addressed the gathering, said the city police had been taking strict action not only against drug peddlers but also against consumers under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He said that from January 2025 till date, around 600 cases had been registered in Kalaburagi city against both peddlers and consumers.

Mr. Sharanappa said the police had launched an initiative titled Sanmitra to identify drug users and peddlers and monitor them closely with the help of assigned police personnel until they returned to a normal life. He said more than 150 youths who had earlier fallen into the drug network had already shown signs of reform through the initiative.

A crucial phase

Appealing particularly to students and young people, the Police Commissioner said the age between 18 and 25 was a crucial phase in life when they should focus on building their future rather than falling prey to harmful habits. He said the fight against drugs required the active participation of students, parents, teachers, social workers and the wider public.

He urged citizens to immediately alert the police by calling the helpline number 112 if they came across any suspicious activity related to drug consumption or supply, particularly near educational institutions and residential areas. Assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential, he said the police had stepped up patrolling based on information received from the public and had also taken preventive detention measures against habitual drug suppliers under special legal provisions.

Warning against experimentation

Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon at United Hospital Dr. Vinaysagar Sharma, who also spoke on the occasion, highlighted the damaging physical, mental and emotional effects of drug addiction. He cautioned youngsters against experimenting with narcotic substances even “for fun”, saying addiction gradually traps individuals, weakens their judgment and can push them towards crime and violence.

Dr. Sharma said the repeated search for the “kick” offered by intoxicants eventually destroys the individual and affects families and society. He urged youngsters to firmly reject drugs and to inform the authorities if they came across any such activity in their surroundings.

The programme was held as part of efforts to create public awareness about the growing threat of drug abuse and illicit trafficking and to promote a drug-free society. Police personnel, students and members of the public took part in the event.