Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has urged students, parents, teachers and educational institutions to strengthen awareness and prevention efforts against drug abuse. He was speaking at a “Drugs Free Mumbai” student counselling and education programme held at the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. Lodha described addiction as a serious threat to individuals and families and called for early guidance and responsible supervision of young people. Twenty-one contributors to the campaign were also felicitated during the programme.

Drugs Free Mumbai: Mangal Prabhat Lodha Calls Drug Addiction a ‘Cancer’ Affecting Society, Urges Student Awareness

The Maharashtra minister urged parents, teachers and educational institutions to strengthen preventive awareness as students participated in counselling and anti-drug activities at the University of Mumbai.

Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has urged students, parents and teachers to jointly resist drug abuse, warning that addiction can damage individuals, families and wider society.

The remarks came during the “Drugs Free Mumbai – Student Counselling Session and Education Training” programme, organised under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at the University of Mumbai.

Addressing the gathering, Lodha said addiction becomes extremely difficult to overcome once it affects the body and mind, with consequences that may persist despite treatment.

He described drug abuse as a “cancer” hollowing out both the body and society, and called for stronger preventive awareness among children before harmful influences take hold.

Lodha said children should be taught to distinguish between a “good friend” and a “bad friend”, alongside existing awareness about appropriate and inappropriate physical contact.

He appealed to teachers and parents to take an active role, arguing that prevention must begin through informed conversations, early guidance and responsible supervision around young people.

The programme was held on Wednesday at the Green Technology Auditorium on the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus in Santacruz East, drawing students, parents and institutional representatives.

Drugs Free Mumbai campaign focuses on schools and students

Lodha said schools, colleges, institutions, organisations and police authorities had contributed significantly to the Drugs Free Mumbai campaign, which has focused heavily on student awareness.

Twenty-one people were felicitated by Mangal Prabhat Lodha for notable contributions to the initiative, while participants at the event also took a collective pledge against substance abuse.

The minister said the campaign was launched on July 30 by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and would continue throughout the year through awareness and counselling activities.

Lodha also warned that criminal tendencies can enter communities through narcotics networks, saying contemporary threats to society and national stability extend beyond conventional forms of warfare.

He referred to counterfeit currency and efforts to push young people towards addiction as examples of non-conventional threats capable of weakening economies, families and future generations.

According to Lodha, when a young person becomes dependent on drugs, the consequences rarely remain individual, often affecting parents, siblings and the broader family environment.

As Mumbai continues developing, Lodha said protecting the city from narcotics must remain a shared responsibility involving government agencies, educational institutions, families, communities and young citizens.

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He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a drug-free India, saying the country’s development depends substantially on the strength, health and participation of youth.

Dr Saigeeta Chitturu, Assistant Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, guided students on adolescence and discussed challenges, choices and awareness relevant to their age group.

Brahma Kumari Prashanti conducted a session titled “Be Smart Be Strong Within”, focusing on inner strength, while representatives of Divine Touch discussed making responsible personal choices.

Mumbai Suburban District Collector Saurabh Katiyar attended the programme alongside University of Mumbai teaching and non-teaching staff, police officers, organisation representatives, students, parents and invited guests.

The Drugs Free Mumbai initiative is designed as a year-long public awareness effort involving educational institutions and multiple government departments, with counselling and early intervention among students.

For Sprouts News, the programme highlights the campaign’s next challenge: sustaining participation across schools, families and public institutions while ensuring credible counselling, prevention and student-support mechanisms.