SynopsisPrime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide campaign against drug addiction. He urged family elders and teachers to foster open communication with children. The campaign aims to keep the nation's youth physically and mentally fit. Support from society and rehabilitation facilities are crucial for recovery. This initiative precedes elections in Punjab, a state facing drug challenges.Listen to this article in summarized formatAgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged family elders and teachers to create a culture of open communication with children to prevent them from getting caught in the trap of drug addiction. Launching the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan', he said families should neither shut doors on such victims nor hide such cases on the pretext of prestige, but instead provide all medical support they need.“I urge every citizen, especially our youth, to join this movement... Today, as the nation has set the goal of a Viksit Bharat, it is imperative that the country’s youth remain physically and mentally fit, brimming with self-confidence, and permanently steer clear of destructive habits like drugs. We must protect every youth from falling into the trap of addiction,” the PM said in his inaugural address at a nationwide video conference to launch the campaign.He emphasised that society, academia and family members have a crucial role to play in tackling the menace.“The support of society, the power of yoga and meditation, give strength to our inner selves against addiction, and today we also have facilities like rehabilitation centres to quit addiction,” Modi said.The PM's message on the growing problem of drug abuse came two days after his Instagram message urging people to “guide the misguided youth” who had used abusive language against him and his late mother during the NEET paper leak protests. The anti-drug campaign has also been launched months ahead of elections in Punjab, a border state where the drug menace has reportedly spread widely among the youth.You Might Also Like:In his address, Modi said, “Even if a youth has mistakenly fallen into the trap of addiction, it absolutely does not mean that all doors are closed for them. We must always remember, if a child in the family falls victim to addiction, do not hide it under the guise of social prestige,” adding that medical treatment and support from the required quarters should be sought to help free the child from addiction.Moreover, he added, that society and families should not distance themselves from young people battling drug addiction“We should also create a culture of open communication with children in the family, so that you can hold their hand before they get caught in such a whirlpool. I would also like to appeal to professors at colleges and universities to discuss the perils of drug abuse with students alongside regular coursework and spearhead a movement against addiction on their campuses,” the prime minister said. He added that such efforts could yield significant results.The campaign, first launched as a pilot project in Varanasi a year ago and now a nationwide endeavour, is not confined to individuals but adopts a comprehensive approach involving schools, colleges, communities and the nation. It has a 100-week roadmap.“Every upcoming Sunday will feature dedicated activities spanning art, culture, sports and meditation to continually engage new participants… The coming 100 Sundays will become 100 strong steps towards a completely drug-free India,” Modi said.He noted that while the country’s youth have made remarkable achievements in startups, artificial intelligence, sports and space exploration, substance abuse remains a serious challenge that is destroying young lives.Modi emphasised that drug addiction devastates families, affecting not only those battling addiction but also shattering the dreams of parents. “When this devastation happens in a family or society, the overall strength of the entire nation also fundamentally weakens,” he said.( Originally published on Aug 02, 2026 )Read More News on