GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court has issued an appeal to the nation's youth to stay away from illicit drugs, cautioning against the growing trend of viewing drug use as a fashionable display of camaraderie. The remarks were made by a Bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice N Kotiswar Singh on Monday, December 16, while deliberating on a narcotics-related case.
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Addressing the youth directly, the court highlighted the dangers of glamourising drugs in popular culture. It called upon the younger generation to exercise decisional autonomy, resist peer pressure, and refrain from imitating personalities who may promote drug abuse.
“For youngsters just beginning to explore the world, the cultural push toward drugs as a ‘cool’ lifestyle is dangerous. We implore them to firmly resist such temptations,” the court observed.
The judges also noted that vulnerable children turn to drugs as a coping mechanism for emotional distress, academic stress, and peer influence. While emphasising the need for rehabilitation rather than stigmatisation, the bench stressed that families of drug abuse victims often bear the brunt of the problem.
Further recommendations were provided to implement a community-centric approach, urging NGOs and local groups to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to organise awareness campaigns in schools and youth centres. The court suggested that the National Legal Services Authority and State Legal Authorities focus on regions vulnerable to drug-related crimes.
Lastly, highlighting the role of educational institutions, the bench advocated the inclusion of drug prevention in school curricula. It called for scientifically-backed programs addressing the physical, emotional, and legal consequences of substance abuse.