Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for joint efforts by society and the government to fight the menace of drug abuse. He assured the nation of a dedicated toll-free helpline to curb drug addiction.

In an emotional appeal in his third direct radio address to the nation, the Prime Minister told young people that the money spent on drugs might be funding terrorism.

“(I) want to ask — perhaps, for a few hours you feel it is a different life, free of troubles — but where does the money you spend go... have you thought? The bullet that hits the soldier has the money of your drugs. We cannot help terrorists and drug mafia,” Modi said in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’, where spoke on drug addiction among the youth.

Ambitions, dreams Terming drug addiction a “psycho-socio-medical problem,” Modi said drugs lead to the problem of 3Ds — Darkness, Destruction and Devastation. “When a youngster gets into this (drugs) we consider him or her bad. But the truth is that drugs are bad, not the youth,” he said in the 20-minute broadcast on All India Radio, which covers 92 per cent of the country’s geographical area and almost the entire population through 414 broadcast centres.

Asking parents to keep an eye on their children, the Prime Minister said bad habits don’t start all of a sudden, they grow over time. He told the youth that sometimes, with friends, people feel drugs are cool and a style statement, but it leads to serious problems. “Have the courage to say no (to drugs) and reject drugs. Tell your friends to do the same too,” he added.

The Prime Minister asked family, friends and the society to work together to curb the menace. Modi felt that when a person does not have any aim and ambition, drugs find him easily.

“If you want to keep your children away from drugs, help them have aims, ambition and dreams, and they will not turn to anything,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he chose the subject as it is a ‘national pain’ and he was giving his anguish an outlet in the process.

Positive goals While exhorting youth to have positive ambitions and goals, Modi referred to the “enthusiasm” and “drive” of the Indian Blind Cricket Team, which recently met him after winning the World Cup.

He also mentioned the victory achieved by the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team against Mumbai in the Ranji Cup to highlight their extraordinary drive.

“Jammu and Kashmir was hit by floods recently. Its playgrounds were flooded. However, despite the difficulties, its team achieved the goal. I congratulate them,” he added. The Prime Minister also referred to the UN decision declaring June 21 as the ‘International Yoga Day’ and said a record 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution on an idea mooted by India.

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