Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' on Aug. 2 [2] to combat substance abuse among youth.
The initiative links public health with national security and economic goals. By targeting drug addiction, the government aims to ensure the younger generation remains capable of contributing to a 'Viksit' or developed India.
Modi delivered the launch address via video-conference from the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh [2], where he spoke to youth across 10 states and regions [4]. The prime minister said the campaign is a long-term commitment to public health and that the government is launching a 100-week campaign to make India drug-free [1].
During his address, Modi said the fight against narcotics is not only a domestic health issue but a matter of national defense. He said, "Drugs are part of enemy nations' terror plan to hurt India" [3]. This framing suggests that substance abuse is being utilized by hostile foreign actors to destabilize the country from within by targeting its most productive demographic.
Beyond the security implications, the prime minister focused on the personal and professional toll of addiction. He said that drugs push families and careers to new lows [3]. To counter these effects, he urged a holistic approach to wellness.
"Our youth must stay physically and mentally fit and stay away from all kinds of substance abuse," Modi said [4].
The campaign is designed to integrate awareness, prevention, and support systems across the country. By framing the effort as a 'Sankalp Abhiyan' or pledge mission, the administration is calling for a collective social commitment to eliminate the drug trade, and its consumption.
“Drugs are part of enemy nations' terror plan to hurt India.”
The 'Nasha Mukt Yuva' campaign signals a strategic shift in how India addresses drug abuse, moving from a purely medical or criminal justice framework to one of national security. By explicitly linking narcotics to 'enemy nations' and 'terror plans,' the Indian government is positioning the anti-drug movement as a patriotic duty essential for the realization of a developed state. This approach may lead to increased surveillance and stricter border controls to intercept narcotics coming from neighboring regions.
