Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 26 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched the fifth phase of the state's No to Drugs campaign, reaffirming the government's commitment to a drug-free society and stressing the importance of public participation in the fight against substance abuse.
Speaking at the state-level event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse, Vijayan pledged to fully protect the privacy of individuals who provide information about drug trafficking.
"Anyone in official capacity who breaches this trust will not be allowed to remain in service," he warned.
The Chief Minister called for a united stand against drug abuse, saying the responsibility lies with society as a whole -- especially parents and teachers.
"Parents must lead by example by staying away from drugs themselves," he said.
"They should speak openly and with love to their children, listen to their concerns, and guide them away from the dangers of addiction," Vijayan said.
This year's theme for the International Day Against Drug Abuse is "Break the Chains -- Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery for Everyone."
He urged parents not to hide if they see behavioural changes in their children.
"Early detection and support make a big difference," he said.
Teachers, he added, play a key role in spotting changes and should not hesitate to act -- including checking bags -- if they suspect drug use. "Don't fear false complaints. Protecting our children comes first."
The CM voiced concern about the rise in synthetic drug use among youth, calling it a serious threat to physical health, mental well-being, and social stability.
"These drugs destroy creativity, weaken family bonds, and can turn users violent," he said.
Vijayan noted that schoolchildren often fall into drug use out of curiosity, peer pressure, or to cope with mental stress.
"Many end up becoming carriers. When love and freedom are missing at home, children may seek comfort elsewhere --often falling into traps," he said.
Kerala's No to Drugs campaign, launched with the aim of making the state drug-free, began at the grassroots level with strong community involvement, especially in schools.
Several successful phases have already been completed.
The fifth phase, which starts now and runs until January 30, 2026, introduces new initiatives.
The Completely Drug-Free Family programme is one of the key efforts, rewarding residential associations that show strong anti-drug work within three months.
The initiative will be led by departments including Excise, Kudumbashree, Police, and Culture.
For college students, the government will run a series of competitions under the title Art-diction: The Way of Inspiration, in collaboration with the Higher Education Department and partner organisations.
In addition, the state will expand School Protection Groups -- already active in over 6,000 schools -- into colleges to help energise anti-drug efforts on campus.
The Chief Minister said to stop drug trafficking from outside the state, inspections have been tightened at Kerala’s borders, airports, railway stations, courier services, and tourist vehicles.
Public cooperation is vital for the success of these checks, Vijayan said.
To encourage reading among children and raise awareness about drug abuse, the CM also launched 10 new books published by the Balasahithya Institute.
He handed them over to the Minister for General Education V Sivankutty, formally releasing them.
The event was chaired by Excise Minister M B Rajesh and attended by ministers Sivankutty, G R Anil, R Bindu, Veena George, MLA V K Prasanth, District Panchayat President Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Jyothilal, Additional Excise Commissioner K S Gopakumar, and writer Palliyara Sreedharan.