On 26 June, to mark World Drug Day, the Telangana government organised a powerful awareness event in Hyderabad as part of the Rising Telangana initiative. The campaign brought together key figures, including Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, senior police officials, and actor Ram Charan, who spoke passionately about the growing threat of drug use among children and young adults.
Sharing a memory from his school days, Ram Charan said, “I remember buying popsicles outside my school. Those were places of joy. But today, those same spots are being misused, children are being exposed to drugs, knowingly or unknowingly.”
He recalled a protest from 2015 that first brought the issue into focus. “It was a wake-up call,” he said. “Now, as a father who is homeschooling his child, I find myself deeply concerned. It’s heartbreaking that such a day is even needed, but it’s important.”
During his speech, Charan stressed the importance of finding joy in simple and positive things. “The real high comes from doing well in school, achieving success, spending time with family, or playing with friends,” he said.
The event also highlighted the increased efforts of the Telangana police and local administration to monitor schools and communities closely in an attempt to stop the spread of drugs. Officers have stepped up patrols and awareness drives to protect children from falling into harmful habits.
Ram Charan closed with a strong message to the public: “It’s not just the government’s job. We all have a role to play. Let’s protect our families, friends, and schools. Let’s stand together and fight this, like soldiers with a shared cause.”