Over 100 cyclists and 450 students on Tuesday joined events marking the Drug-Free India Fortnight, ahead of the UN anti-drug day on June 26. The Narcotics Control Bureaus Indore Zonal Unit is observing the Nashamukt Bharat Abhiyan Pakhwada from June 12 to 26, aiming to raise awareness against drug abuse and illicit trafficking through public engagement activities. The campaign will culminate on June 26, which marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The observance was established by a 1987 UN General Assembly resolution and has been held globally since 1988. As part of the campaign, the NCB organised a Cyclothon in Indore, drawing over 100 riders who pedalled through city streets to spread the message: Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs. In a parallel initiative at Delhi Public School, Indore, officers interacted with senior students, highlighting the risks of substance abuse and promoting early awareness. Over 450 students and staff participated, taking an online pledge against drugs. Drug addiction destroys individuals by damaging both physical and mental health. It impairs judgment, ruins careers, and often leads to fatal overdoses or lifelong dependence. For families, drug abuse can bring emotional trauma, financial hardship and fractured relationships. Loved ones are forced into roles of caretakers, enablers, or helpless witnesses to decline. Entire communities suffer when drug abuse spreads. Crime rates rise, youth potential is lost, and healthcare and law enforcement systems come under strain, weakening social cohesion. Each year, the United Nations promotes coordinated global action through the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Its campaign highlights prevention, treatment access, and international cooperation to counter the drug trade. NCB Indore has pledged to continue its outreach efforts across Madhya Pradesh and appealed to citizens to support the fight against narcotics by reporting suspicious activity to the toll-free National Narcotics Helpline, MANAS, at 1933.

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