Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B L Verma today said that over 14 crore people across the country have joined the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan so far. He added that over 4 lakh educational institutions have also joined the campaign. The Minister said this while addressing an event on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in New Delhi.

Talking about the menace of drug abuse, Mr Verma said that drugs do not just ruin a person, but the whole society. He remarked that the nation has witnessed many youth spiral into drug addiction, leading to a loss of productivity and hindering national growth. He urged the people to take pledge against drug abuse and adopt positive habits in everyday life. Mr Verma assured that breaking the circle of drug addiction may be difficult but it isn’t impossible, asking people to empathise with recovering addicts.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today said that Delhi Police has seized and destroyed more than 50 thousand kilogram of Drugs and has arrested more than one thousand people involved in this trade in 2025 so far. Speaking at the event marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 in the National Capital, she said that the Police has registered cases against the drug smugglers. She added that the Delhi government, Police, and Delhiites are all working together to eradicate this menace from the society.

As part of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, an awareness walk was organized in Puducherry by the Bharathi Foundation. Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan led the walk and took a pledge for drug eradication. The event witnessed the participation of students from various schools under the National Service Scheme, along with officials and dignitaries.

During the event, the Lieutenant Governor expressed concern over increasing drug abuse among students, particularly in government schools. He pointed to a recent survey which indicated that 23 percent of students in Government schools of Puducherry were affected by drug use. He stressed that while police would take strict action against drug dealers, students must take personal responsibility to stay away from narcotics and guide their peers towards a healthy path.