Awareness drive conducted against drug abuse

The city police led the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 with an awareness march through the main thoroughfares of the city, on Thursday.

It was led by the Commissioner of Police Seema Latkar and other officials and the authorities said that it was being observed across the world and was an opportunity to spread awareness about the ill effects of drug use and the threat posed by drug trafficking.

The objective is to strengthen global cooperation to achieve a drug-free society, said the authorities. Underlining the importance of the day and the imperatives of raising public awareness about drug abuse and its consequences, the authorities said there was also psychological harm caused by drug abuse.

The awareness march was also an attempt to encourage health professionals, government departments, and communities to work together towards creating a drug-free society and to emphasise the importance of rehabilitation for drug addicts.

However, the core objective was to reach out to the youth community and educate them about the physical, mental, and social impacts of drug abuse, the authorities added.

The day is observed annually under the auspices of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and is held in association with various government departments, educational institutions, NGOs, to promote a healthy and safe society, according to the authorities.