Country’s First Scientific Anti-drug Curriculum

July 14, 2026

The most devastating impact on the youth population right now is the spread of drugs and other intoxicants. A vigorous “War on Drugs” campaign is being waged against this issue in Punjab. Drug seizures are being made daily, and major drug mafias are being caught by the law. Educators and experts attribute the spread of drugs to the mental attitudes of young people and adolescents. This tendency arises because young people do not see a future for themselves through the current education system, and this tendency is fostered by the deteriorating environment around them and the negative habits of their peers. To address this, a decision has been made to incorporate scientifically based anti-drug education into school curriculums at the national level..

This means they will be psychologically empowered to avoid turning to drugs in times of despair or depression, and to also remove the pressure from their peers to follow suit. This process of mentally strengthening and raising awareness among young people is certainly commendable. The Punjab government says it has launched this curriculum. In Punjab, it’s called the Mindfulness Program. It was first implemented in 210 schools in Mohali, Punjab. In these schools, 83 percent of students reported reduced stress and better coping with difficult situations. Our goal in this campaign is that every child rescued from drug addiction is the foundation of a secure future for the state. Therefore, it is envisioned that if this model is fully successful in any one state, we will be able to say that it lays the foundation for a secure future for our future generations.

The Punjab government has stated that it has already launched this program at the school level. This campaign is being implemented in Punjab with the support of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The Punjab government claims that over 1,400 school heads have been trained, and the model has reached 800,000 students. If children become aware of the ill effects of drug abuse and become mentally resilient against it at the school level, it will be much easier to protect them from the trap of drug abuse. The goal is to not only educate children about the harmful effects of drug abuse but also to instill in vulnerable children the courage to understand or reject peer pressure, make informed decisions, and reject drugs. This program appears to be very meaningful, and it is being considered for adoption for children across the country. We believe that when young people, having completed their education and embarked on the struggle of life, face the shock of financial distress, aimlessness, and disillusionment, they have no other option but to sink into the abyss of addiction. The surrounding environment, coupled with the availability of drugs at cheap prices through drug mafias, throws all their education into disarray, leading young people onto the path of addiction. It would be better if this educational awakening were accompanied by a secure economic future for the youth.