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      June 26 World Drug Day

            June 26 is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987, this day serves as a reminder of the goals agreed to by Member States of creating an international society free of drug abuse.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selects themes for the International Day and launches campaigns to raise awareness about the global drug problem. Health is the ongoing theme of the world drug campaign.

We invite everyone to mark 26 June! It is a unique occasion to take a stand against a problem that affects us all. We count on your support to make this pro-health campaign a success.

Share with us information on the events and campaigns you are organizing to mark World Drug Day and send out a strong message against illicit drug use.

     Dry Day

         Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the International Anti-Narcotics Day will be observed as ‘dry day’ from next year onwards.

    He said that introducing a ban on alcohol, with a high demand for it, can have dangerous side-effects.

     “For this reason, we have focussed on reducing the yearning for alcohol. To bring down the availability of alcohol, the government has decided not to sanction permits for new beverages outlets. Only bars with five-star facilities will be allowed to function. Liquor beverages outlets will be closed  on Anti-Narcotics Day from now on,’’ he said.

     He was speaking at a function to honour individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to mitigate the ills of alcohol and drug abuse on the occasion of International Anti-Narcotics Day at SMV Model Higher Secondary School here on Thursday.

    The individuals and organisations were given mementos and cash prizes at a function organised by the State Excise Department. `3.5 crore contributed by Bevco was distributed among 11 de-addiction centres. Trivandrum Social Service Society won the award for the best anti-narcotic organisation in the state. Father Thomas Thythottathil from Kannur won the award for the individual with the best anti-narcotic contributions in the state.

     The best club to undertake anti-narcotic initiatives was the club of St Mary’s HSS Maruthwamkara, Kozhikode. Sarath, a Plus One student from NKM Government HSS, Dhanuvachapuram, won the award for the best club member to contribute to anti-narcotic initiatives.

    On a day dedicated to fight against drug abuse, the State Government declared that it would approach the Centre seeking to bring in amendments in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, so as to have more restrictions on substance abuse. As per the suggestions to be made to the Centre, possessing 100 gm of substances should be made a culpable offence instead of the existing law which says possessing substances up to 1 kg is non-culpable.

    Coming out with a host of measures against drug and substance abuse, the Excise Department is planning to seek the help of celebrities to create awareness against drug abuse. The Excise Department and the State Beverages Corporation would launch more initiatives to create awareness against substance abuse, Excise Minister K Babu told the Assembly on Thursday. Measures would be taken to release more funds for anti-drug activities, he said.