Drug-free campuses, drug-free future: A collective responsibility for Jammu & Kashmir

“Drugs do not destroy only an individual; they silently destroy families, institutions, and ultimately the future of a nation.” 

The growing menace of drug abuse among youth has emerged as one of the gravest social and educational challenges of our time. Across schools, colleges, and universities, substance abuse is no longer a distant threat—it is a harsh reality knocking at the doors of classrooms, hostels, playgrounds, and even homes. In a region like Jammu and Kashmir, known for its rich cultural heritage, intellectual traditions, and resilient youth, the rise of drug addiction among students is deeply alarming. 

The recent inauguration of the 100 Days Drug-Free Jammu & Kashmir Campaign by Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is a timely and commendable intervention. This initiative is not merely a government program; it is a clarion call for society to unite against an invisible enemy that is stealing dreams, dignity, and direction from our younger generation. 

Drug abuse refers to the harmful or inappropriate use of legal or illegal substances, including prescription medicines, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, synthetic drugs, and narcotics. What begins as experimentation, peer pressure, curiosity, or temporary escape from stress often turns into addiction—a chronic disease affecting the brain, judgment, emotions, and social behavior. 

Educational institutions, which should be sanctuaries of learning and character building, are increasingly becoming vulnerable spaces where students are exposed to unhealthy influences. The pressure to excel academically, emotional instability, broken family communication, unemployment anxiety, social media glamorization, and toxic peer groups have made many adolescents psychologically fragile. 

Young brains continue developing until their mid-twenties. Drug use during this critical phase damages decision-making capacity, weakens concentration, impairs memory, and increases impulsive behavior. A student under addiction does not merely lose marks; they gradually lose identity, self-worth, relationships, and life goals. 

“Addiction promises relief but delivers ruin.” 

Several factors contribute to drug abuse among students: 

Desire to fit into peer groups 

Curiosity and thrill-seeking behavior 

Academic pressure and competition 

Depression, anxiety, loneliness, and trauma 

Family conflicts or lack of parental supervision 

Easy availability of drugs near campuses 

Social media glorification of substance use 

Many students wrongly believe substances enhance concentration, confidence, or performance. In reality, drugs offer temporary illusion while silently dismantling mental and physical health. 

Parents, teachers, and peers should remain alert to the following signs: 

Sudden decline in academic performance 

Frequent absenteeism and disciplinary issues 

Change in friend circles and social withdrawal 

Mood swings, aggression, irritability, or depression 

Poor hygiene and lack of self-care 

Financial irregularities, lying, or stealing 

Sleep disturbances, red eyes, slurred speech, memory lapses 

Ignoring these signals is like watching smoke and denying the possibility of fire. 

Role of Educational Institutions: From Awareness to Action 

Schools and colleges must adopt a whole-institution approach toward prevention. 

Institutions should: 

Conduct regular anti-drug awareness workshops and counseling sessions 

Establish active counseling cells and wellness centers 

Introduce life skills education, emotional intelligence, and stress management programs 

Strengthen campus vigilance and reporting mechanisms 

Promote sports, cultural activities, and student engagement initiatives 

Build zero tolerance for drug peddling while maintaining a rehabilitative approach for affected students 

Drug prevention cannot be reduced to one seminar or poster campaign. It must become part of institutional culture. 

“A campus that ignores addiction is indirectly nurturing destruction.”

Parents must understand that prevention begins at home. 

Parents should:

Communicate openly and non-judgmentally with children 

Monitor behavioral changes and friend circles 

Set healthy boundaries and discipline 

Encourage confidence, resilience, and purpose 

Seek professional help early if warning signs emerge 

A child who feels heard at home is less likely to seek escape elsewhere. 

To students, the message is simple and urgent: 

Your dreams are bigger than any intoxication. No substance can replace discipline, hard work, self-respect, and vision. 

Say no to experimentation disguised as “fun.” Refusing drugs is not weakness—it is courage. 

Choose: 

books over substances 

fitness over intoxication 

purpose over peer pressure 

ambition over addiction 

“One wrong habit can erase years of hard work.” 

Community and Government: Shared Accountability 

Drug abuse cannot be tackled by government machinery alone. Society must participate. 

Community leaders, NGOs, law enforcement agencies, religious institutions, and civil society organizations must collaborate to: 

identify vulnerable zones, 

prevent drug trafficking, 

support rehabilitation, 

create positive youth engagement platforms. 

The 100-day awareness campaign launched under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should become the foundation of a long-term social movement. 

At its core, the fight against drugs is not only about law enforcement; it is about preserving human potential. 

A student is not merely an individual but a future teacher, doctor, scientist, farmer, entrepreneur, soldier, and nation-builder. When a student falls to addiction, society loses a part of its tomorrow. 

“If we save one student from addiction today, we save an entire future tomorrow.” 

Let us pledge collectively—students, parents, teachers, institutions, and policymakers—to make educational spaces in Jammu and Kashmir centers of knowledge, discipline, wellness, and hope. 

Because a drug-free student is not just a healthy individual—he or she is a stronger foundation for a stronger India. 

Say No to Drugs. Say Yes to Life. 

This article is a wake-up call that we must face this abhorrent phenomenon. Hopefully, others will join me in the campaign against this epidemic, whether on social media platforms, newspapers, television, or other media channels. This threat is immense, for the present as well as the future.

(The author Devraj Thakur is National Joint Secretary, Akhil Bhartiya Rashtriya Shakshik Mahasangh – Delhi India), Contact @ drthakur868@gmail.com