Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP), Enforcement Bureau-CID, K. Shankar, on Thursday urged colleges to conduct orientation programmes for new admissions, as part of the ‘Drug and Tobacco-Free Campus’ initiative.
The sessions must cover the risks of drug abuse, penalties under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, institutional disciplinary measures, and confidential counselling services. Students may also submit voluntary affidavits, pledging to stay away from substance abuse, he said.
In a major push to curb substance abuse in higher educational institutions, a workshop on the “Roles and Responsibilities of Anti-Drug Clubs and Volunteer Teams” was organised at Meenakshi College of Engineering in K.K. Nagar on Thursday.
Jointly organised by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force and the Mission Management Unit, the workshop was aimed at empowering student volunteers and institutional heads to create drug-free campuses across the State.
Presiding over the workshop, Mr. Shankar said the aim was to strengthen Anti-Drug Clubs in colleges by training students on their roles and responsibilities.
He stressed the role and accountability of college principals and faculty members in implementing the initiative and maintaining continuous vigilance.
Around 300 student volunteers and principals from 30 colleges attended the workshop.
Mr. Shankar also advised colleges to install CCTV cameras on their campuses, report illicit activities through the Drug Free-T.N. mobile application, and coordinate directly with the designated police nodal officers to ensure prompt action on drug trafficking complaints.
Published – October 15, 2026 11:51 pm IST
