Police Chief Launches Awareness Campaign Against Drug Abuse Ahead of International Day

Hyderabad's top police official has initiated an Anti-Drug Awareness Week, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle narcotics abuse and trafficking ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026.

Director General of Police C.V. Anand inaugurated the initiative at the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Banjara Hills, addressing a gathering of law enforcement personnel and students. He framed the struggle against drugs as extending well beyond policing, instead positioning it as a societal responsibility that demands participation from all segments of the population.

Anand has instructed officers across all ranks, from Home Guards to senior leadership, to maintain unwavering focus on anti-narcotics initiatives. He stressed that reducing demand for drugs represents a crucial strategy in curtailing their supply.

The state has witnessed a troubling shift in its role within the drug trade. While Telangana historically functioned primarily as a distribution corridor for trafficking operations, consumption patterns have accelerated across both metropolitan and rural communities in recent times. The police chief expressed particular alarm about traffickers deliberately targeting young people, sometimes disguising narcotic substances within everyday items like chocolates and biscuits to hook new users.

Anand characterized this phenomenon as a grave danger to the social fabric, warning that youth vulnerability to addiction threatens the state's and nation's long-term prospects.

Law enforcement agencies have mobilized the EAGLE Force for intensive anti-drug operations throughout Telangana. The police are collaborating with multiple government bodies including the School Education Department, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Enforcement Directorate, and Customs authorities.

A key component of the strategy involves establishing Anti-Drug Safety Clubs within schools and educational institutions. The police chief indicated that the Education Department bears responsibility for creating these clubs, with potential consequences for institutions that neglect this directive.

Anand has called on parents to maintain vigilance regarding their children's behaviour and to watch for warning signs of substance misuse. He additionally urged families and communities to facilitate rehabilitation through de-addiction facilities, framing such support as integral to safeguarding the younger generation.

The campaign reflects law enforcement's commitment to creating a Telangana free from drug-related threats.