Drugs debilitate mind and body, obstructing attainment of progress, senior officials of Police and Health departments cautioned students during an awareness programme at the Government Arts College (Autonomous), on Friday.Drug-addiction deflects attention of students from opportunities for progression, N. Kannan, Commissioner of Police, observed, blaming the situation on the normalisation of alcohol and drug-addiction in cinema, be it for celebrating happiness or getting over grief.Flanked by P. Kanagaraj, Head, Department of Political Science, and Principal In-Charge, Mr. Kannan, who spoke on the role of youth in building a better tomorrow administered pledge to students to keep away from drugs.The Deputy Commissioners of Police, P. Thangadurai (Coimbatore North) and G. Karthikeyan, explained how drugs turn out to be the prime cause for occurrence of crimes.Saranya Devi, advisor,Tobacco Control Cell, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, urged the students to understand the consequences of drug-consumption in the forms of genetic impairment, impotence and infertility. Published - July 17, 2026 07:37 pm IST