The government of Bihar is preparing to launch a special monthly campaign to combat the use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. This initiative will run from October 27 to November 26. The campaign's start will be marked by an opening ceremony, during which Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary will unveil the flag of the anti-addiction caravan.
The campaign is conducted by the Department of Prohibition of Alcohol, Products, and Registration and aims to raise public awareness about the negative consequences of drug addiction and motivate youth to avoid consuming prohibited substances. In addition to alcohol, information about the harm of cannabis, stimulants (smack), and opium (charas) will be disseminated as part of this event.
Since there is a complete ban on alcohol sales in Bihar, the government intends to use this campaign to strengthen awareness of the prohibition, as well as to increase social engagement in the fight against the use of other narcotics. The public will also be informed about the consequences of drug use for health, family life, and society as a whole.
To convey the message of fighting addiction from villages to cities, various activities are planned. The public will be informed through social media, audio-video messages, and radio jingles. Posters and banners will be placed on municipal council vehicles, and theatrical performances, human chains, and oath-taking ceremonies will be held in squares and panchayats (village councils). Additionally, photo zones titled 'Bihar Drug-Free' will be created in key locations.
Jivika Didis will play a key role in this large-scale campaign, being appointed as friends in the fight against addiction. They will visit homes to inform women and families about the dangers of narcotic substances. The government believes that family participation will help raise awareness about this social problem. During the campaign, women and other community members will also be motivated to abstain from drugs.
The organization Brahmakumari will conduct special educational sessions in all Jivika clusters at the state level (CLF), as well as in schools and colleges. Contests such as essay writing, debates, poetry recitation, and poster making will be organized to explain the harm of drugs to students. Furthermore, youth will be motivated to refuse drugs through sports events.
The message against addiction will also be broadcast on the banks during the Chhath festival. Moreover, the public will be informed about the harm of drugs at religious and public places. It is planned that these actions will ensure the anti-addiction message reaches as many people as possible and will involve broad public participation.
For lodging complaints related to alcohol and narcotics, the Department of Prohibition of Alcohol has released two toll-free numbers: 15545 and 18003456268. According to the Department's statement, people can file relevant complaints using these numbers. The goal of this campaign, running from October 27 to November 26, is to raise awareness about the fight against drugs and, specifically, to keep youth away from consuming psychoactive substances.